PRIMER 
OF 

CHRISTIAN 
DOCTRINE 


alifornia 

*ional 

ility 


MILTON  S.  TERRY 


7 


primer  0f  (Elfriatiatt 


In  the  Form  of  Questions 
and  Answers 


FOR  THE  USE  OF  SUNDAY-SCHOOLS,  EPWORTH  LEAGUES, 

CHRISTIAN  ENDEAVOR   SOCIETIES,   ADULT  BIBLE 

CLASSES,   AND  ALSO  FOR  A   HELP  TO 

PRIVATE  STUDY  AND  DEVOTION 


BY 

MILTON  S.  TERRY,  D.  D. 

Professor  of  Christian  Doctrine  in  Garrett  Biblical  Institute 


CINCINNATI:   JENNINGS  AND   GRAHAM 
NEW    YORK:    EATON    AND    MAINS 


COPYRIGHT,    1906,   1 

JENNINGS   AND   GRAF 


PREFACE. 

1.  This  Primer  of  Doctrine  is  not  intended  for 
young  children,  nor  for  primary  classes  in  Sunday- 
schools. 

2.  But  it  may  prove  very  helpful  in  many  young 
people's  meetings  where  the  main  inquiry  is,  as  it 
should  be,  after  the  essence  of  Christianity. 

3.  It  may  also  be  useful  as  a  simple  and  compre- 
hensive outline  of  Christian  doctrine  for  any  class 
of  readers  and  students. 

4.  Its  aim  is  to  point  out  the  principal  teachings 
of  Jesus  Christ  so  as  to  embody  in  cathechetical 
form  the  substance  of  the  gospel 

5.  It  does  not  therefore  attempt  to  cover  all  the 
doctrines  of  the  Holy  Scriptures. 

6.  The  great  fact  is  emphasized  that  Jesus  Christ 
has  fulfilled  the  law  and  the  prophets,  and  has  in- 
stituted a  new  and  better  covenant 

7.  Care  has  been  taken  to  omit  nothing  of  fun- 
damental religious  value  in  the  Christian  faith. 

8.  Care  has  also  been  taken  to  incorporate  a 
large  number  of  the  most  precious  texts  of  the  Bible 
in  order  to  facilitate  and  encourage  the  habit  of  fix- 
ing them  in  the  memory. 

3 


4  Preface. 

9.  It  is  thus  possible  that  these  questions  and 
answers  may  also  prove  to  be  a  helpful  handbook 
of  private  devotion  and  study.    The  import  of  most 
of  the  texts  cited  is  so  evident  that  they  need  no 
other  commentary  or  exposition  than  the  medita- 
tions, inquiries,  and  conversations  which  the  present 
arrangement  is  designed  to  suggest 

10.  Whatever  may  be  its  imperfection  as  a  state- 
ment of  the  essentials  of  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ, 
this  booklet  may  perhaps  contribute  in  some  meas- 
ure to  promote  catechetical  study,  and  prompt  more 
competent  hands  to  prepare  a  better  manual. 


CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

I.  INTRODUCTORY,      -        „       »      ..        -      7 
II.  OUR  HEAVENLY  FATHER,      -        •        •         13 

III.  OUR  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST,        -  -     18 

IV.  SALVATION  IN  CHRIST,        •        0        -          28 
V.  THE  MISSION  AND  THE  MINISTRY  OF  THE  SPIRIT,  44 

VI.  THE  KINGDOM  AND  THE  COMING  OF  CHRIST,  51 

VII.  THE  RESURRECTION  AND  THE  JUDGMENT  TO 

COME, 73 


's  QlmlL 


I  BELIEVE  IN  OUR  FATHER  WHO  IS  IN  HEAVEN.  WHOSE  NAME 
IS  HALLOWED.  WHO  LOVES  US.  AND  CIVES  US  OUR  DAILY 
BREAD,  AND  ALL  GOOD  THINGS. 

I     BELIEVE    IN     THE    COMING    AND     KINGDOM     OF    OUR     L.ORD 

JESUS  CHRIST.  WHO  GAVE  HIS  LIFE  FOR  us.  FORGIVES  us 

OUR  DEBTS  AS  WE  FORGIVE  OUR  DEBTORS,  AND  TEACHES  US 
TO  LOVE  OUR  GOD  WITH  ALL  OUR  HEART.  AND  OUR  NEIGHBOR 
AS  OURSELF. 

I  BELIEVE  IN  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT.  WHO  HELPS  US  IN  OUR 
TRIALS,  DELIVERS  US  FROM  THE  EVIL,  LEADS  US  INTO  ALL 
TRUTH,  AND  WORKS  IN  US  TO  DO  THE  WILL  OF  GOD  ON  EARTH 
AS  IT  IS  IN  HEAVEN. 


of  ffilprtaliati  Bwtrut*. 


3Firat. 

INTRODUCTORY. 

1.  What  Is  tht  Gospel? 

It  is  the  good  news  of  salvation  and  eternal  life 
in  Jesus  Christ 

2.  What  are  the  fundamental  truths  of  the  Gospel? 

The  doctrines  of  God,  our  Heavenly  Father,  of 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,  of  salvation  and  eternal  life 
in  Christ,  of  the  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  the  ting- 
dom  and  coming  of  Christ,  the  resurrection  and  final 
judgment  of  all  men. 

3.  Where  do  we   learn  the  facts  and  teachings  of 

Jesus  Christ? 

In  the  various  books  of  the  New  Testament,  but 
more  especially  in  the  four  Gospel*  of  Matthew, 
Mark,  Luke,  and  John. 

4.  How  are  these  Gospels  often  distinguished? 

The  first  three  are  called  the  Synoptic  Gospelf, 
because  they  are  all  conspicuously  much  alike  in 
their  contents,  and  present  in  a  brief  general  out- 
line the  main  facts  in  the  life  and  teachings  of 
Jesus;  but  the  Gospel  of  John  contains  many  other 
7 


8  Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

things  which  Jesus  said  and  did,  and  it  has  a  style 
of  thought  and  language  peculiar  to  itself. 

5.  How   do   the  three   Synoptic   Gospels   differ  from 

each  other? 

Mark  is  the  shortest  and  seems  to  be  the  oldest 
of  the  three,  and  it  has  most  in  common  with  the 
other  two.  Matthew  contains  nearly  all  that  is 
found  in  Mark,  and  also  many  other  sayings  of 
Jesus,  and  seems  to  have  been  designed  more  espe- 
cially for  Jewish  readers.  Luke  was  written  after 
many  had  taken  in  hand  to  draw  up  a  narrative  of 
the  words  and  the  works  of  Jesus,  and  it  informs 
us  of  many  things  not  recorded  in  the  other  Gospels. 

6.  What  are  the  contents,  in  the  main,  of  all  the 

Gospels? 

They  are  memoirs  of  the  earliest  traditions  of 
what  the  Lord  Jesus  said  and  did. 

7.  What  is  the  oldest  tradition  of  their  authorship? 

That  which  is  found  in  the  writings  of  two 
ancient  fathers  of  the  Church: 

(i.)  Papias  about  A.  D.  130  wrote  that 
"Matthew  composed  his  history  in  the  Hebrew  dia- 
lect, and  every  one  translated  it  as  he  was  able." 
He  also  says  that  "Mark  was  the  interpreter  of 
Peter  and  recorded  whatever  he  wrote  with  great 
accuracy,  but  not  in  the  order  in  which  it  was  said 
and  done  by  our  Lord;  for  he  neither  heard  nor  fol- 
lowed the  Lord,  but  was  in  company  with  Peter, 
who  gave  him  such  instruction  as  was  necessary, 
but  not  to  give  a  history  of  our  Lord's  discourses." 

(2.)  Irenseus  about  A.  D.  180  wrote:  "Matthew 


Introductory.  9 

produced  his  Gospel  written  among  the  Hebrews 
in  their  own  dialect,  whilst  Peter  and  Paul  pro- 
claimed the  gospel  and  founded  the  Church  at  Rome. 
After  the  departure  of  these,  Mark,  the  disciple  and 
interpreter  of  Peter,  also  transmitted  to  us  in  writ- 
ing what  had  been  preached  by  Peter.  And  Luke, 
the  companion  of  Paul,  committed  to  writing  the 
gospel  preached  by  Paul.  Afterwards  John,  the  dis- 
ciple of  our  Lord,  the  same  that  lay  upon  His  bosom, 
also  published  the  Gospel,  while  he  was  yet  in 
Ephesus  in  Asia." 

8.  How  do  the  other  books  of  the  New  Testament 

witness  the  gospel  of  Christ? 

They  are  along  with  the  Gospels  the  earliest  and 
most  authoritative  records  of  Christianity,  and  they 
show  what  was  believed  and  preached  by  the  first 
apostles  and  teachers  of  the  Church. 

9.  What  significance  has  the  word  "Testament,"  as 

applied  to  the  writings  of  the  evangelists  and 
apostles? 

It  is  used  interchangeably  with  the  word  "cov- 
enant," as  may  be  seen  in  2  Cor.  3 : 6  and  14,  and 
means  also  the  acknowledged  records  of  a  covenant. 
A  covenant  is  the  sacred  pledge  and  promise  of 
manifold  blessings  to  be  given  in  fulfillment  of  cer- 
tain conditions.  The  Scriptures  of  the  Old  Testa- 
ment tell  us  how  God  entered  into  such  covenant 
relations  with  men,  and  the  New  Testament  is  a 
like  record  of  the  covenant  of  grace  and  salvation 
through  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  called  "the  Mediator 
of  a  new  and  better  covenant."  (Heb.  8  : 6;  9  : 15.) 


10         Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

10.  What  use  are  we  to  make  of  the  Scriptures  of 

the  Old  Testament,  and  how  should  we  esteem 
them? 

They  are  the  religious  writings  of  poets, 
prophets,  psalmists,  lawgivers,  and  wise  men  of 
Israel,  who  were  possessed  and  moved  by  the  Spirit 
of  God;  and  they  show  us  how  God  spoke  in  many 
portions  and  in  many  ways  to  the  Jewish  people  of 
whom  Christ  came.  Hence  they  are  profitable  for 
teaching,  for  reproof,  for  correction,  and  for  in- 
struction in  righteousness.  (2  Tim.  3:16.) 

11.  What  New  Testament  saying  specially  Indicates 

the  partial  and  progressive  character  of  the 
Old  Testament,  and  the  consummation  of  Its 
revelations  in  Christ? 

The  beginning  of  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews, 
which  says:  "God,  having  of  old  time  spoken  unto 
the  fathers  in  the  prophets  by  divers  portions  and 
in  divers  manners,  hath  at  the  end  of  these  days 
spoken  unto  us  in  His  Son,  whom  He  appointed 
Heir  of  all  things." 

12.  Have  the  moral  and  religious  teachings  of  the 

Old  Testament  as  great  a  value  for  us  as  those 
of  the  New  Testament? 

By  no  means;  for  Jesus  Christ  set  aside  many 
sayings  of  the  old  time  as  unsuitable  to  men  under 
the  gospel;  He  fulfilled  the  law  and  the  prophets, 
instituted  a  new  and  better  covenant,  and  brought 
to  light  a  fuller  and  clearer  revelation  of  God. 


Introductory.  11 

13,  How  may  we  distinguish  those  teachings  which 

have  permanent  value  from  those  which  served 
a  temporary  purpose? 

By  subjecting  them  to  the  comparison  and  test  of 
the  teachings  of  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ. 

14.  What  are  the  most  conspicuous  qualities  of  the 

teaching  of  Jesus  Christ? 

(i.)  He  spoke  with  authority  unknown  to  the 
Jewish  scribes,  and  His  words  carry  irresistible  con- 
viction to  the  reason,  the  conscience,  and  the  heart 
of  man. 

(2.)  His  teaching  was  so  simple  that  it  charmed 
the  young  and  the  old.  The  common  people  and  the 
multitude  heard  Him  gladly,  and  His  sayings  lose 
none  of  their  power  to  this  day. 

(3.)  He  emphasized  the  great  essential  ele- 
ments of  religion,  and  magnified  spiritual  and  heav- 
enly things  above  all  ordinances  of  outward  form. 

(4.)  He  gave  even  the  moral  elements  in  the  old 
commandments  a  deeper  significance  than  they  had 
been  thought  to  contain  before.  (Matt.  5:21-32.) 

(5.)  He  condensed  the  entire  Old  Testament 
revelation  into  one  royal  law  of  the  love  of  God  and 
the  love  of  man.  (Matt.  22:  37-40.) 

(6.)  His  gospel  is  a  universal  message  of  grace 
and  truth,  adapted  to  all  men,  and  not  directed  to 
any  one  race  or  people  only. 

(7.)  He  has  brought  life,  immortality,  and  the 
kingdom  of  heaven  to  light  as  they  were  never 


12         Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

known  before,  so  that  the  least  in  His  kingdom  is 
greater  than  the  greatest  prophet  of  the  Old  Testa- 
ment (Matt.  11:11.) 

(8.)  The  great  practical  aim  of  all  His  teach- 
ing and  ministry  is  the  moral  renovation  of  the 
world. 

(9.)  His  Divine-human  personality,  as  the  great 
Revealer  of  our  Father  in  heaven,  imparts  to  all  His 
teaching  a  character  of  life  and  light  which  is  cor- 
respondingly transcendent. 

(10.)  His  teaching,  accordingly,  possesses  the 
elements  of  permanence  and  finality  which  are  found 
in  the  words  of  no  other  prophet  or  sage,  and  which 
show  the  adaptation  of  Christianity  to  be  the  one 
universal  religion  of  mankind. 


&r  rtunt  &r  ruuft. 
OUR  HEAVENLY  FATHER. 

1.  What  does  Jesus  teach  us  about  God? 

He  teaches  us  to  call  Him  our  Father  who  is  in 
the  heavens. 

2.  Was  not  God  known  as  the  Heavenly  Father  before 

the  coming  of  Christ? 

Not  in  the  personal  and  endearing  way  in  which 
Christ  reveals  Him  to  us  in  His  gospel  of  love.  But 
many  intimations  of  this  heavenly  truth  had  been 
expressed  before: 

(i.)  The  Greeks  called  Him  Zeus,  "Father  of 
gods  and  men,"  but  they  regarded  Him  as  an  off- 
spring of  older  gods,  and  susceptible  of  base 
passions. 

(2.)  The  old  Teutonic  and  Scandinavian  peo- 
ples called  one  of  their  deities  "All-father,"  but  his 
worship  was  associated  with  many  barbarous  and 
bloody  rites. 

(3.)  Jehovah  called  Israel  His  "first  born  son," 
and  Ephraim  His  "dear  son"  and  His  "darling 
child"  (Ex.  4:22;  Hos.  ii :i;  Jer.  21:9,  20);  but 
the  relationship  implied  was  national  rather  than 
personal. 

(4.)  The  same  collective  and  national  idea  ap- 
pears when,   in   Isa.   63:16;   64:8,   9,   Israel   ad- 
dresses Jehovah  as  "our  Father." 
13 


14         Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

(5.  The  words  "my  Father"  in  Jer.  3:4,  are 
the  utterance  of  the  nation  conceived  as  the  un- 
faithful bride  of  Jehovah. 

(6.)  Some  of  the  Psalms  express  tender  relation 
to  God,  but  their  statements  are  general,  and  lack 
the  suggestions  of  a  personal  intimacy  with  God  as 
a  loving  Father,  such  as  Jesus  taught.  (Cf.  Psa. 
68:5;  103:13.) 

(7.)  The  personal  relationship  expressed  in  2 
Sam.  i :  14  ("I  will  be  to  him  a  Father"),  is,  like 
Psa.  89 : 26,  part  of  a  Messianic  promise  pointing  to 
the  future. 

3.  What  may  we  learn  from  the  Lord's  Prayer  about 

our  Heavenly  Father? 

(i.)  We  learn  to  hold  the  name  "our  Father" 
sacred  in  our  hearts. 

(2.)  We  are  impressed  with  the  thought  of  His 
coming  kingdom. 

(3.)  We  are  lifted  to  the  blessed  ideal  of  heaven 
on  earth. 

(4.)  We  are  taught  to  think  of  God  as  a  nourish- 
ing Father,  giving  us  our  daily  bread,  and  all  need- 
ful things. 

(5.)  We  are  taught  that  we  may  be  forgiven 
all  our  debts  and  trespasses  as  we  forgive  our  debt- 
ors and  those  who  trespass  against  us. 

(6.)  We  are  assured  that  we  may  find  help  from 
above  in  our  trials,  and  deliverance  from  the  evil. 

4.  What  is  said  in  Matt.  7:  9-11,  concerning  the  tender 

affection  of  our  Heavenly  Father? 
"What  man  is  there  of  you,  who,  if  his  son  ask 
him  for  a  loaf,  will  give  him  a  stone;  or  if  he  shall 


Our  Heavenly  Father.  15 

ask  for  a  fish,  will  give  him  a  serpent?  If  ye,  then, 
being  evil,  know  how  to  give  good  gifts  to  your 
children,  how  much  more  shall  your  Father  who  is 
in  heaven  give  good  things  to  them  that  ask  Him?" 

5.  What  other  things  did  Jesus  say  about  our  Heav- 

enly Father's  goodness? 

(i.)  He  loves  His  enemies,  and  "makes  His  sun 
to  rise  on  the  evil  and  the  good,  and  sends  His  rain 
on  the  just  and  the  unjust."  (Matt.  5 : 45.) 

(2.)  His  tender  care  observes  every  sparrow 
that  falls  to  the  ground,  and  He  numbers  all  the 
hairs  of  our  head.  (Matt  10:29,  30.) 

(3.)  He  feeds  the  birds,  arrays  the  lilies  of  the 
field  in  beauty,  clothes  the  grass  with  its  verdure; 
but  He  feels  a  much  greater  interest  in  the  needs  of 
His  children.  (Matt.  6:26-34.) 

6.  What  does  Jesus  teach  in  Mark  10:  18  about  the 

goodness  of  God? 

He  says  that  God  is  the  only  one  absolutely  good 
Being.  In  comparison  with  His  perfect  goodness 
the  best  among  men  are  relatively  bad. 

7.  State  other  New  Testament  teaching  about  God. 

(i.)  He  is  holy,  righteous,  and  altogether  per- 
fect, the  glorious  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth. 

(2.)  He  sees  all  that  we  do  in  secret,  and  knows 
the  thoughts  of  our  heart. 

(3.)  God  is  a  Spirit,  in  every  place,  in  all, 
through  all,  over  all,  and  in  Him  we  live,  and  move, 
and  have  our  being. 


16         Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

(4.)  "God  is  love;  and  he  that  abideth  in  love 
abideth  in  God,  and  God  abideth  in  him."  (i 
John  4: 16.) 

8.  Wherein  do  we  behold  the  greatest  manifestation 

of  God's  love  for  man? 

In  the  fact  that  "God  so  loved  the  world  that 
He  gave  His  Only  Begotten  Son,  that  whosoever 
believeth  on  Him  should  not  perish,  but  have  eter- 
nal life."  (John  3: 16.) 

9.  How  does  1  John  4:  9,  10,  14,  speak  of  this  love  of 

the  Father? 

"Herein  was  the  love  of  God  manifested  in  us, 
that  God  hath  sent  His  Only  Begotten  Son  into  the 
world  that  we  might  live  through  Him.  Herein  is 
love,  not  that  we  loved  God,  but  that  He  loved  us, 
and  sent  His  Son  to  be  the  propitiation  for  our  sins. 
.  .  .  And  we  have  beheld  and  bear  witness  that 
the  Father  hath  sent  the  Son  to  be  the  Savior  of  the 
world." 

10.  What  does  Paul  say  on  this  subject  of  God's  love? 

(i.)  "God  commendeth  His  own  love  toward  us, 
in  that,  while  we  were  yet  sinners,  Christ  died  for 
us."  (Rom.  5:8.) 

(2.)  "God  was  in  Christ  reconciling  the  world 
unto  Himself."  (2  Cor.  5: 19.) 

(3.)  "It  is  God  that  said,  Light  shall  shine  out 
of  darkness,  who  shined  in  our  hearts,  to  give  the 
light  of  the  knowledge  of  the  glory  of  God  in  the 
face  of  Jesus  Christ."  (2  Cor.  4:6.) 


Our  Heavenly  Father.  17 

11.  Does  the  gospel  of  Christ  declare  the  righteous- 

ness and  holiness  of  God  as  truly  as  His  love? 

Most  assuredly,  in  the  teaching  both  of  Christ 
and  His  apostles. 

(i.)  Jesus  addressed  Him  as  "holy  Father"  and 
"righteous  Father." 

(2.)  He  pronounced  most  severe  judgment  of 
condemnation  on  all  unrighteousness. 

(3.)  Paul  declares  that  "the  wrath  of  God  is 
revealed  from  heaven  against  all  ungodliness  and 
unrighteousness  of  men." 

(4.)  It  is  also  written  that  willful  sinning 
against  the  light  and  knowledge  of  God  exposes 
one  to  fearful  judgment.  (Heb.  10:26,  27.) 

(5.)  The  fact  that  the  Son  of  man  came  "to 
give  His  life  a  ransom  for  many"  (Mark  10:45), 
and  that  "God,  sending  His  own  Son  in  the  likeness 
of  sinful  flesh  and  for  sin,  condemned  sin  in  the 
flesh"  (Rom.  8:3),  is  a  most  wonderful  testimony 
for  all  the  ages  to  come  of  the  severity  of  God 
toward  sin  and  sinners,  as  well  as  of  His  unspeak- 
able love  and  compassion. 

12.  How  does  all  this  manifestation  of  Christ  reveal 

the  Father? 

By  showing  forth  the  real  nature  of  Divine  wis- 
dom, love,  and  power  in  a  human  life.  When  we 
duly  observe  and  appreciate  all  the  heavenly  qual- 
ities of  goodness,  love,  righteousness,  holiness,  truth, 
and  the  abiding  power  of  all  these  in  the  transcend- 
ent personality  of  Jesus  Christ,  we  behold  the  Father 
also.  (John  14:6-10.) 
2 


Sntiim 
OUR  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST. 

1.  What  did  Jesus  say  about  Himself? 

(i.)  "All  things  have  been  delivered  unto  Me 
of  My  Father;  and  no  one  knoweth  the  Son  save 
the  Father ;  neither  doth  any  know  the  Father,  save 
the  Son,  and  he  to  whomsoever  the  Son  willeth  to 
reveal  Him."  (Matt.  11:27.) 

(2.)  "Whosoever  shall  do  the  will  of  My  Father 
who  is  in  heaven,  he  is  My  brother  and  sister  and 
mother."  (Matt.  12:  50.) 

(3.)  "He  whom  God  hath  sent  speaketh  the 
words  of  God;  for  He  giveth  not  the  Spirit  by 
measure."  (John  3 :  34.) 

(4.)  "I  am  come  down  from  heaven,  not  to  do 
Mine  own  will,  but  the  will  of  Him  that  sent  Me." 
(John  6:  38.) 

(5.)  "I  am  the  Living  Bread  which  came  down 
out  of  heaven;  if  any  man  eat  of  this  Bread,  he 
shall  live  forever."  (John  6:  51.) 

(6.)  "I  am  the  Good  Shepherd;  the  good  shep- 
herd layeth  down  his  life  for  the  sheep.'*  (John 
10:  u.) 

(7.)  "Come  unto  Me,  all  ye  that  labor  and  are 
heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest."  (Matt. 
11:28.) 

18 


Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  19 

(8.)  "I  am  the  Resurrection  and  the  Life;  he 
that  believeth  on  Me,  though  he  die,  yet  shall  he 
live;  and  whosoever  liveth  and  believeth  on  Me 
shall  never  die."  (John  11:25,  26.) 

(9.)  "Father,  glorify  Thou  Me  with  Thine  own 
self,  with  the  glory  which  I  had  with  Thee  before 
the  world  was."  (John  17:5.) 

(10.)  "Lo !  I  am  with  you  always,  even  unto  the 
end  of  the  world."  (Matt.  28:20.) 

2.  What  witness  did  He  receive  at  the  time  of  His 

baptism? 

"He  saw  the  heavens  rent  asunder,  and  the  Spirit 
as  a  dove  descending  upon  Him,  and  a  voice  came 
out  of  the  heavens,  Thou  art  My  beloved  Son;  in 
Thee  I  am  well  pleased."  (Mark  i :  10,  u.) 

3.  What    occurred    to    Him    immediately    after   the 

baptism? 

The  Spirit  urged  Him  away  into  the  wilderness, 
and  He  was  forty  days  subjected  to  severe  tempta- 
tions of  Satan,  but  He  triumphantly  resisted,  and  re- 
turned in  the  power  of  the  Spirit  into  Galilee.  (Mark 
i:  12,  13;  Luke  4: 14.) 

4.  Whom  did  He  call  to  be  His  immediate  followers? 

"He  appointed  twelve,  whom  also  He  named 
apostles,  that  they  might  be  with  Him,  and  that  He 
might  send  them  forth  to  preach."  (Mark  3:14; 
Luke  6: 13.)  Their  names  were  Simon  Peter,  An- 
drew, James,  John,  Philip,  Bartholomew,  Matthew, 
Thomas,  James  of  Alphaeus,  Simon  the  Zealot,  Judas 
of  James,  and  Judas  Iscariot 


20         Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

5.  What  does   Matthew  4:  23,  say  of   Him   and    His 

works? 

"Jesus  went  about  in  all  Galilee,  teaching  in  their 
synagogues,  and  preaching  the  gospel  of  the  king- 
dom, and  healing  all  manner  of  disease  and  all  man- 
ner of  sickness  among  the  people." 

6.  What  message  did  Jesus  send  to  John  the  Baptist 

in  proof  that  He  was  the  Messiah  who  was  to 
come? 

"Go  and  tell  John  the  things  ye  hear  and  see; 
the  blind  receive  their  sight,  and  the  lame  walk, 
the  lepers  are  cleansed,  and  the  deaf  hear,  and  the 
dead  are  raised  up,  and  the  poor  have  the  good 
tidings  preached  to  them.  (Matt.  11:5;  Cf.  Isa. 
35:5,6.) 

7.  What  did  the  people  think  and  say  of  Him? 

(i.)  They  were  astonished  at  His  marvelous 
works. 

(2.)  They  were  astonished  at  His  teaching  and 
His  authority. 

(3.)  The  multitude  heard  Him  gladly.  (Mark 
12:37.) 

(4.)  Nicodemus  thought  Him  a  teacher  come 
from  God.  (John  3:2.) 

(5.)  The  officers  sent  to  arrest  Him  said,  "Never 
man  so  spake."  (John  7  : 46.) 

(6.)  Many  worshiped  Him  as  the  Son  of  God, 
and  as  "the  King  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord,"  and  He  Himself  said,  amid  the  rejoicing 
on  His  triumphal  entry  into  Jerusalem,  that  if  the 
disciples  should  hold  their  peace,  the  stones  would 
cry  out.  (Luke  19 140.) 


Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  21 

8.  Name  some  of  the  recorded  facts  of  His  life  on 

earth. 

(i.)  He  was  conceived  of  the  Holy  Spirit  and 
born  of  the  Virgin  Mary. 

(2.)  The  Child  grew  and  waxed  strong,  filled 
with  wisdom;  and  the  grace  of  God  was  with  Him. 
.  .  .  And  Jesus  advanced  in  wisdom  and  stature, 
and  in  favor  with  God  and  men."  (Luke  2 :  40,  52.) 

(3.)  When  twelve  years  old  he  went  with  His 
parents  to  Jerusalem,  and  amazed  the  Jewish  teach- 
ers and  all  who  heard  Him  with  the  understanding 
apparent  in  His  questions  and  answers.  (Luke 
2:41-51.) 

(4.)  When  He  was  about  thirty  years  old  He 
began  His  public  ministry,  which  extended  over 
only  about  three  years  and  a  half. 

(5.)  At  last  the  chief  priests,  scribes,  and  elders 
of  the  Jewish  people,  with  the  authority  of  Pilate, 
the  Roman  governor,  secured  His  crucifixion,  death, 
and  burial. 

(6.)  The  third  day  He  rose  from  the  dead,  and 
showed  Himself  alive  by  many  convincing  proofs, 
appearing  unto  the  apostles  and  others  for  a  period 
of  forty  days,  after  which  He  was  parted  from  them 
and  ascended  into  heaven. 

9.  What    peculiarities    distinguish    the    miracles    of 

Jesus  Christ? 

His  mighty  works  were  commanding  evidences 
of  His  Divine  mission  and  ministry,  but  in  no  in- 
stance were  they  a  showy  display  of  His  own 
power,  nor  were  they  wrought  for  their  own  sake; 
but  they  were  monumental  acts  of  love  for  man,  in 


22         Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

striking  harmony  with  His  character  as  the  Savior 
of  the  world. 

10.  How  do  the  miracles  of  Jesus  furnish  us  perma- 
nent lessons  of  His  abiding  presence  and  super- 
natural power? 

They  are  types  and  symbols  of  those  ''greater 
works"  of  the  Spirit,  which  Jesus  assured  His  dis- 
ciples they  should  do  after  His  return  to  the  Father ; 
for— 

(i.)  His  beginning  of  miracles  at  Cana  is  a  sug- 
gestive symbol  of  the  transforming  and  transfig- 
uring work  which  the  Son  of  man  is  continuously 
doing  for  mankind.  He  is  now  making  all  things 
new  (Rev.  21 :  5),  changing  the  hearts  of  men  from 
enmity  to  the  love  of  God  and  of  their  brethren, 
and  exalting  them  into  new  creatures,  "meet  to  be 
partakers  of  the  inheritance  of  the  saints  in  light," 
and  to  drink  the  heavenly  wine  of  salvation  "new  in 
the  kingdom  of  God."  (Mark  14:25.) 

(2.)  All  His  works  of  healing  are  symbolic  of 
His  ability  as  the  Great  Physician  to  heal  the  sin- 
sick  souls  of  men. 

(3.)  His  cleansing  of  the  lepers  assures  us  of 
His  abiding  power  on  earth  to  cleanse  the  human 
heart  from  all  unrighteousness. 

(4.)  His  casting  out  demons  is  a  symbol  of  his 
superior  wisdom  and  might  to  deliver  us  from  all 
the  powers  of  evil,  and  to  strengthen  us  against  all 
temptations. 

(5.)  His  giving  sight  to  the  blind  is  an  assur- 
ance of  His  power  to  open  the  eyes  of  our  hearts  to 
a  knowledge  of  heavenly  things. 


Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  23 

(6.)  His  healing  of  the  deaf  and  dumb  shows 
His  perpetual  power  to  enlarge  our  spiritual  capa- 
bilities to  a  keen  sense  of  the  grace  of  God. 

(7.)  His  walking  on  the  sea  and  His  stilling  the 
tempest  should  assure  us  that  He  is  never  far  away, 
but  ever  present  to  rescue  us  from  perils,  and  to 
make  the  winds  and  the  waves  our  servants. 

(8.)  His  miraculous  draughts  of  fishes  and  His 
telling  of  the  money  in  the  mouth  of  the  fish  teach 
the  same  lesson  of  His  making  whatsoever  passeth 
through  the  paths  of  the  sea  subserve  the  interests 
of  man. 

(9.)  Even  His  cursing  the  fruitless  fig-tree  is  a 
significant  warning  against  all  false  pretenses  and 
hypocrisy. 

(10.)  His  raising  the  dead  and  His  own  resur- 
rection from  the  dead  assure  us  that  He  is  indeed 
the  Resurrection  and  the  Life,  and  will  surely  de- 
liver from  the  power  of  death  all  those  who  have 
life  in  Him. 

11.  What  did  the  apostles  and  prophets  of  the  New 
Testament  think  and  teach  about  Jesus  Christ? 

'(i.)  Peter  in  his  preaching  proclaimed  Him  as 
"Jesus  of  Nazareth,  a  man  approved  of  God  by 
mighty  works  and  wonders  and  signs  which  God 
did  by  Him,  but  crucified  and  slain  by  lawless  men; 
Him  God  raised  up  and  exalted  at  His  right  hand, 
and  made  both  Lord  and  Christ."  (Acts  2:22-34.) 
He  also  called  Him  "the  holy  and  righteous  one," 
and  "the  Prince  of  life."  (Acts  3:14,  15.)  He 
declared  that  "He  is  Lord  of  all,"  and  that  "God 
anointed  Him  with  the  Holy  Spirit  and  with  power : 


24         Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

who  went  about  doing  good,  and  healing  all  who 
were  oppressed  with  the  devil;  for  God  was  with 
Him.  .  .  .  God  raised  Him  up  the  third  day, 
and  gave  Him  to  be  manifest,  not  to  all  the  people, 
but  unto  witnesses  that  were  chosen  before  of  God, 
even  to  us,  who  ate  and  drank  with  Him  after  He 
rose  from  the  dead.  And  He  charged  us  to  preach 
unto  the  people  and  to  testify  that  this  is  He  who 
is  ordained  of  God  to  be  the  Judge  of  the  living  and 
the  dead.  (Acts  10:36-42.) 

(2.)  James  calls  Him  "our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
the  Lord  of  glory."  (James  2:1.) 

(3.)  Jude  calls  Him  "our  only  Master  and  Lord 
Jesus  Christ."  (Jude  4.) 

(4.)  In  Paul's  writings  we  have  a  variety  of  tes- 
timony : 

1  In  Romans  I  :  3-5,  he  calls  Him  "the  Son  of 
God,  who  was  born  of  the  seed  of  David  according 
to  the  flesh,  declared  to  be  the  Son  of  God  with 
power,  according  to  the  spirit  of  holiness,  by  the 
resurrection  from  the  dead;  even  Jesus  Christ  our 
Lord,  through  whom  we  received  grace  and  apostle- 
ship,  unto  obedience  of  faith  among  all  the  nations 
for  His  name's  sake." 

2  In  the  Corinthian  Epistles  he  is  called  "the 
power  of  God  and  the  wisdom  of  God;"  the  last 
Adam,  a  life-giving  Spirit;  "the  Lord  the  Spirit; 
the  image  of  God."     (i  Cor.  1:24;  15:45;  2  Cor. 
3:18;  4:4.) 

3  In  Eph.  i  :  19-23,  he  speaks  of  "that  working 
of  the  strength  of  His  might  which  God  wrought  in 
Christ,  when  He  raised  Him  from  the  dead,  and 
made  Him  to  sit  at  His  right  hand  in  the  heavenly 


Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  25 

places,  far  above  all  rule,  and  authority,  and  power, 
and  dominion,  and  every  name  that  is  named,  not 
only  in  this  world,  but  also  in  that  which  is  to  come ; 
and  He  put  all  things  in  subjection  under  His  feet, 
and  gave  Him  to  be  head  over  all  things  to  the 
Church,  which  is  His  body,  the  fullness  of  Him 
that  filleth  all  in  all." 

4  In  Philippians  2  :5~n,  he  says:     "Have  this 
mind  in  you  which  was  also  in  Christ  Jesus:  who, 
existing  in  the  form  of  God,  counted  not  the  being 
on  an  equality  with  God  a  thing  to  be  grasped,  but 
emptied   Himself,    taking   the   form   of   a   servant, 
being  made  in  the  likeness  of  men  and  being  found 
in  fashion  as  a  man,  He  humbled  Himself,  becoming 
obedient  even  unto   death,   yea,   the  death   of  the 
cross.     Wherefore  also  God  highly  exalted  Him, 
and  gave  unto  Him  the  name  which  is  above  every 
name;  that  in  the  name  of  Jesus  every  knee  should 
bow,  of  things  in  heaven  and  things  on  earth  and 
things  under  the  earth,  and  that  every  tongue  should 
confess  that  Jesus  is  Lord,  to  the  glory  of  God  the 
Father." 

5  In  Col.  i  :  15-18,  he  says  that  the  Son  of  the 
Father's  love  "is  the  image  of  the  invisible  God, 
the  firstborn  of  all  creation;  for  in  Him  were  all 
things  created  in  the  heavens  and  upon  the  earth, 
things  visible  and  things  invisible,  whether  thrones 
or  dominions  or  principalities  or  powers;  all  things 
have  been  created  through  Him  and  unto  Him;  and 
He  is  before  all  things,  and  in  Him  all  things  con- 
sist."    In  2:9,  he  adds :     "In  Him  dwelleth  die 
fullness  of  the  Godhead  bodily." 

(5.)  In  the  Gospel  of  John  we  read:  "In  die  be- 


26        Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

ginning  was  the  Word,  and  the  Word  was  with 
God,  and  the  Word  was  God.  All  things  were  made 
through  Him.  ...  In  Him  was  life  and  the  life 
was  the  light  of  men.  .  .  .  And  the  Word  be- 
came flesh,  and  dwelt  among  us,  and  we  beheld  His 
glory,  glory  as  of  the  only  begotten  from  the  Father, 
full  of  grace  and  truth." 

(6.)  In  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews  we  read: 
"God  hath  spoken  unto  us  in  His  Son,  whom  He  ap- 
pointed Heir  of  all  things,  through  whom  also  He 
made  the  ages,  who,  being  the  effulgence  of  His 
glory,  and  the  very  image  of  His  substance,  and 
upholding  all  things  by  the  word  of  His  power, 
when  He  had  made  a  purification  of  sins,  sat  down 
on  the  right  hand  of  the  Majesty  on  high,  having 
become  by  so  much  better  than  the  angels  as  He 
hath  inherited  a  more  excellent  name  than  they." 
Also  in  4: 15,  it  is  said  that  He  "hath  been  in  all 
points  tempted  like  as  we  are,  yet  without  sin." 
And  in  13 : 8,  "Jesus  Christ  is  the  same  yesterday 
and  to-day,  yea,  and  forever." 

(7.)  In  the  Revelation  of  John,  Jesus  Christ  is 
called  "the  faithful  witness,  the  firstborn  of  the 
dead,  and  the  Ruler  of  the  kings  of  the  earth;  the 
first  and  the  last,  and  the  Living  One,  the  begin- 
ning of  the  creation  of  God."  (1:5,  17,  18;  3: 14.) 
He  is  "the  Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah"  and  also  "the 
Lamb  that  hath  been  slain  to  receive  the  power,  and 
riches,  and  wisdom,  and  might,  and  honor,  and  glory, 
and  blessing.  (5:4,  12.)  He  bears  also  the  names 
of  "the  Word  of  God"  and  "King  of  kings  and 
Lord  of  lords."  (19: 13,  16.)  He  is,  along  with  the 
Father  Almighty,  the  sanctuary  and  the  light  of  the 
New  Jerusalem.  (21:22,  23.) 


Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  27 

12.  What  then  should  we  think  of  Jesus  Christ? 

We  should  behold  in  Him  the  wisdom,  love,  and 
power  of  God  revealed  in  a  fullness  never  before 
or  elsewhere  seen,  and  think  of  Him  as  the  incar- 
nation of  God  Himself,  the  anointed  Son  of  the 
everlasting  Father.  We  should,  accordingly,  wor- 
ship Him  as  our  Lord  and  Savior,  even  as  we  wor- 
ship the  Father. 


SALVATION  IN  CHRIST. 

1.  What  does   Matthew   1:21,  say   about  the   name 

JESUS? 

His  name  was  called  Jesus,  "for  it  is  He  that 
shall  save  His  people  from  their  sins." 

2.  What  does  the  Apostle   Peter  say,  in  Acts  4:  12, 

about  the  "name  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Nazareth?" 
"In  none  other  is  there  salvation;  for  neither 
is  there  any  other  name  under  heaven,  that  is  given 
among  men,  wherein  we  must  be  saved." 

3.  What  does  Jesus  say,  in  Luke  19:  10,  about  the 

great  purpose  of  His  coming   into  the  world? 

"The  Son  of  man  came  to  seek  and  to  save  that 
which  was  lost." 

4.  How  do  the  three  parables  of  Luke  15  illustrate 

and  enhance  this  great  purpose  of  Jesus? 

By  way  of  climax  they  intensify  the  thought  of 
"joy  in  the  presence  of  the  angels  of  God  over  one 
sinner  that  repenteth."  One  sheep  out  of  a  hundred 
is  comparatively  a  little  loss;  one  drachma  out  of 
ten  is  proportionately  greater;  but  a  lost  child,  and 
one  out  of  two,  is  incalculably  a  greater  loss,  and 
the  joy  of  recovery  is  correspondingly  blessed. 


Salvation  in  Christ.  29 

5.  What  is  written  in  1  John  2:  1,  2,  and  4:  14? 

"If  any  man  sin,  we  have  an  Advocate  with  the 
Father,  Jesus  Christ  the  righteous;  and  He  is  the 
propitiation  for  our  sins;  and  not  for  ours  only,  but 
also  for  the  whole  world.  .  .  .  And  we  have 
beheld  and  bear  witness  that  the  Father  hath  sent 
the  Son  to  be  the  Savior  of  the  world." 

6.  What  sayings  of  Jesus  show  His  estimate  of  the 

value  of  the  human  soul? 

(i.)  His  saying  that  men  are  of  much  more 
value  than  the  grass,  the  lilies,  and  the  birds,  im- 
plying that  the  human  race  is  the  highest  and  noblest 
part  of  the  creation  of  God.  (Matt.  6:26-30.) 

(2.)  His  teaching  that  one  human  life  is  of 
greater  value  than  the  whole  world,  and  His  ques- 
tion, "What  shall  a  man  give  in  exchange  for  his 
soul?"  (Matt.  16:26.) 

(3.)  His  saying  that  "the  Son  of  man  came  not 
to  be  ministered  unto,  but  to  minister,  and  to  give 
his  life  a  ransom  for  many."  (Mark  10:45.) 

(4.)  His  comparing  Himself  to  the  good  shep- 
herd, who  giveth  his  life  for  the  sheep.  (John 
10:15.) 

(5.)  His  saying  at  the  last  supper  with  His  dis- 
ciples, when  He  gave  them  the  cup,  "This  is  My 
blood  of  the  covenant  which  is  poured  out  for 
many."  (Mark  14:24.) 

(6.)  All  those  sayings  which  speak  of  men  as 
sons  of  the  Heavenly  Father,  who  so  loves  them  as 
to  watch  over  them  continually,  cares  for  them,  and 
counts  it  a  pleasure  "to  give  them  the  kingdom." 

(7.)  The  intercessory  prayer  for  the  disciples 


30         Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

in  John  17,  and  especially  the  statement  that  He 
is  "glorified  in  them." 

7.  What  do  other  Scriptures  teach  concerning  man? 

(i.)  Man  was  created  in  the  image  of  God 
(Gen.  1:27),  and  he  exists  in  the  image  and  glory 
of  God.  (i  Cor.  11:7.) 

(2.)  Mankind  were  made  male  and  female, 
monogamy  is  the  Divine  order,  and  hence  the  mar- 
riage relation  is  sacred  and  inviolable.  (Gen.  i :  27; 
Mark  10:2-11.) 

(3.)  God  has  given  man  dominion  over  all  the 
other  creatures  of  the  earth.  (Gen.  1:28;  Psa. 
8:5-8-) 

(4.)  God  ordains  the  times  and  the  geographical 
boundaries  of  the  nations  of  men.  (Acts  17:26; 
Deut.  32:8.) 

(5.)  Man  in  his  sinfulness  and  depravity  is  still 
the  object  of  the  Heavenly  Father's  love,  so  that 
God  gave  His  Son  to  open  unto  him  the  way  of 
eternal  life.  (John  3:  16;  Rom.  5:8.) 

8.  Why  is  it  that  man  needs  a  Heavenly  Savior? 

Because  of  his  sinfulness,  his  ignorance  of  God, 
and  his  inability  to  deliver  himself  from  the  do- 
minion of  sin. 

9.  What  is  the  teaching  of  Jesus  concerning  human 

sinfulness? 

(i.)  Jesus  recognized  the  deplorable  condition 
of  sinful  man,  and  spoke  of  the  heart  of  man  as  the 
seat  and  source  of  "evil  thoughts,  murders,  adul- 
teries, fornications,  thefts,  false  witness  and  rail- 
ings, which  defile  the  man."  (Matt.  15: 19.) 

(2.)  He   also   recognized   different   degrees  of 


Salvation  in  Christ.  31 

guilt,  in  proportion  to  the  moral  light  one  has.  He 
upbraided  the  cities  of  Chorazin,  Bethsaida,  and 
Capernaum,  wherein  most  of  His  mighty  works  were 
done,  saying  that  "it  shall  be  more  tolerable  for 
Tyre  and  Sidon  in  the  day  of  judgment  than  for 
you."  (Matt.  11:22.) 

(3.)  His  terrible  denunciation  of  the  "scribes, 
Pharisees,  and  hypocrites"  in  Matt.  23:  13-38,  call- 
ing them  "offspring  of  vipers,"  shows  His  intense 
hostility  to  all  manner  of  sin. 

(4.)  Still  more  impressive  is  what  He  said  of 
the  "blasphemy  against  the  Holy  Spirit  which  has 
never  forgiveness,  but  involves  the  guilt  of  eter- 
nal sin."  (Mark  3:29.) 

(5.)  All  this  is  intensified  by  what  He  said  about 
the  destroying  of  soul  and  body  in  hell  (Matt. 
10:28),  and  the  going  away  into  eternal  punish- 
ment. (Matt.  25:46.) 

10.  Cite  other  New  Testament  witness  to  human  sin- 

fulness. 

(i.)  Paul  declares  that  all  have  sinned,  and  fall 
short  of  the  glory  of  God.  (Rom.  3 :  23.) 

(2.)  In  i  John  1:8,  10,  it  is  written:  "If  we 
say  that  we  have  no  sin,  we  deceive  ourselves,  and 
the  truth  is  not  in  us.  ...  If  we  say  that  we 
have  not  sinned,  we  make  Jesus  a  liar  and  His  word 
is  not  in  us." 

11.  What,  then,  is  the  salvation  which   is  in  Jesus 

Christ? 

It  is  a  Divine  deliverance  from  the  guilt  and  the 
domination  of  sin,  and  a  conscious  blessed  fellow- 
ship with  God. 


32         Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

12.  How  does  Paul  speak,  in  2  Cor.  5:  18,  19,  of  this 

great  salvation? 

He  calls  it  "the  ministry  of  reconciliation,"  in 
which  man  is  to  co-operate  with  God,  and  to  be  as- 
sured that  "God  is  in  Christ  reconciling  the  world 
unto  Himself." 

13.  Why  should  this  great  salvation  be  also  called  a 

reconciliation? 

Because  it  effects  a  blessed  harmony  between 
man  and  God,  and  brings  the  once  alienated  sinner 
into  loving  fellowship  and  communion  with  his 
Heavenly  Father. 

14.  How  does  Paul  speak  of  the  co-operation  of  the 

Divine  and  the  human  in  this  work  of  salva- 
tion? 

He  says  to  the  Philippians:  "Work  out  your 
own  salvation  with  fear  and  trembling;  for  it  is  God 
who  worketh  in  you  both  to  will  and  to  work  for  His 
good  pleasure."  (Phil.  2:  13.) 

15.  What  are  the  several  and  successive  steps  in  the 

way  of  salvation? 

(i.)  Conviction  of  personal  sinfulness  by  the 
Spirit  of  God. 

(2.)  Repentance  toward  God  and  faith  in  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

(3.)  The  fervent  prayer  of  penitent  confession. 

(4.)  The  gracious  gift  of  remission  of  sins. 

(5.)  Regeneration  by  the  Holy  Spirit. 

(6.)  Justification  and  peace  with  God. 

[(7.)  The  assurance  of  faith  and  hope. 


Salvation  in  Christ.  33 

(8.)  Sanctification  in  the  Holy  Spirit  and  in  the 
truths  of  God.  » 

(9.)  Growth  in  all  Christian  graces. 

(10.)  Love  which  is  the  bond  of  perfectness. 
(Col.  3: 14.) 

16.  What  is  conviction  of  sin? 

The  sense  of  guilt  awakened  in  the  soul  by  a 
vivid  perception  of  the  deadly  nature  of  sin. 

17.  How  does  Paul  describe  the  operation  of  his  own 

personal  conviction  of  sin? 

"I  am  carnal,  sold  under  sin.  .  .  .  For  the 
good  which  I  would  I  do  not;  but  the  evil  which  I 
would  not,  that  I  practice.  ...  I  delight  in  the 
law  of  God  after  the  inward  man;  but  I  see  a  dif- 
ferent law  in  my  members,  warring  against  the  law 
of  my  mind,  and  bringing  me  into  captivity  under 
the  law  of  sin  which  is  in  my  members.  Wretched 
man  that  I  am  !  who  shall  deliver  me  out  of  the  body 
of  this  death?"  (Rom.  7:  14-24.) 

13.  How  may  we  define  repentance? 

Repentance  involves  the  deep  sense  of  guilt  which 
follows  conviction  of  sin,  but  it  includes  in  addition 
the  strong  desire  and  purpose  to  turn  away  from  all 
ungodliness  and  to  become  so  changed  in  heart 
and  life  as  to  please  God.  And  so  it  is  written, 
"Godly  sorrow  worketh  repentance  unto  salvation." 
(2.  Cor.  7:  10.) 

19.  What  was  the  first  great  call  in  the  message  of 

Jesus? 

"Repent  ye  and  believe  in  the  gospel."     (Mark 
1:15-) 
3 


34         Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

20.  How  did  Peter,  on  the  Day  of  Pentecost,  speak  of 

repentance   and    remission   of  sins? 

When  the  people  cried,  "What  shall  we  do?"  the 
apostle  answered,  "Repent  ye,  and  be  baptized  every 
one  of  you  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  unto  the  re- 
mission of  your  sins;  and  ye  shall  receive  the  gift 
of  the  Holy  Spirit."  (Acts  2 :  38.) 

21.  What  did  Jesus  teach  concerning  the  conditions 

of  forgiveness? 

"If  ye  forgive  men  their  trespasses,  your  Heav- 
enly Father  will  also  forgive  you.  But  if  ye  forgive 
not  men  their  trespasses,  neither  will  your  Father 
forgive  your  trespasses."  (Matt.  6: 14,  15.) 

22.  What  does  John  teach  concerning  confession  and 

remission  of  sins? 

"If  we  confess  our  sins,  God  is  faithful  and  right- 
eous to  forgive  us  our  sins,  and  to  cleanse  us  from 
all  unrighteousness."  (i  John  1:9.) 

23.  What  does  Paul  teach  concerning  confession  and 

faith? 

"If  thou  confess  with  thy  mouth  Jesus  as  Lord, 
and  believe  in  thy  heart  that  God  raised  Him  from 
the  dead,  thou  shalt  be  saved:  for  with  the  heart 
man  believeth  unto  righteousness,  and  with  the 
mouth  confession  is  made  unto  salvation."  (Rom. 
10:  9,  10.) 

24.  How  may  we  define  such  faith  as  this? 

Such  faith  is  a  personal  trust  in  God  and  in 
Christ  for  the  forgiveness  of  sins,  for  the  gifts  of 
the  Spirit,  and  for  eternal  life. 


Salvation  in  Christ.  35 

25.  What    famous    saying    of    Jesus    to    Nicodemus 

teaches  the  necessity  of  a  new  birth  through 
the  Holy  Spirit? 

"Except  one  be  born  from  above  [or  anew,  of 
the  Spirit],  he  can  not  see  the  kingdom  of  God." 
(John  3:  3-8.) 

26.  How  does  Paul  speak    of   this    great   spiritual 

change? 

As  a  new  creation  in  the  Lord:  "If  any  man  is 
in  Christ,  he  is  a  new  creature  [or  creation]  :  the 
old  things  are  passed  away;  behold,  they  are  be- 
come new."  (2  Cor.  5: 17;  cf.  Eph.  2: 10.) 

27.  How  is  this  new  life  in  the  Spirit  spoken  of  in  the 

writings  of  John? 

It  is  called  "eternal  life,"  and  is  conceived  as  an 
enduring  or  imperishable  kind  of  life,  and  a  present 
possession  of  the  believer  as  well  as  a  future  blessed 
inheritance : 

(i.)  "He  that  believeth  on  the  Son  hath  eternal 
life."  (John  3:36.) 

(2.)  "He  that  heareth  My  Word,  and  believeth 
Him  that  sent  Me,  hath  eternal  life,  and  cometh  not 
into  judgment,  but  hath  passed  out  of  death  into 
life."  (John  5 : 24.) 

(3.)  "He  that  eateth  My  flesh  and  drinketh  My 
blood  hath  eternal  life."  (John  6:54.) 

(4.)  "This  is  life  eternal,  that  they  should  know 
Thee  the  only  true  God,  and  Him  whom  Thou  didst 
send,  even  Jesus  Christ."  (John  17:  3.) 

(5.)  "He  that  hath  the  Son  hath  the  life."  (i 
John  5: 12;  cf.  Rom.  8:2.) 


36         Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

28.  What   does    Paul    teach    about    justification     by 

faith? 

"Being  justified  by  faith,  we  have  peace  with 
God  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ;  through  whom 
also  we  have  had  our  access  by  faith  into  this  grace 
wherein  we  stand;  and  we  rejoice  in  hope  of  the 
glory  of  God."  (Rom.  5 :  i,  21.) 

29.  What  blessed   relationship  is  attained  and  real- 

ized in  this  great  spiritual  change? 

Its  subjects  are  called  "sons  of  God,"  "sons  of 
your  Father  who  is  in  heaven,"  "sons  of  God 
through  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,"  "sons  of  the  king- 
dom," "sons  of  light,"  and  "beloved  children." 

30.  What   personal   assurance   is  given    us    of    this 

Dlessed  relationship? 

"The  Spirit  Himself  beareth  witness  with  our 
spirit,  that  we  are  children  of  God."  (Rom.  8:  16.) 
This  is  an  immediate  impression  and  conviction 
wrought  in  the  soul  of  each  child  of  God  by  the 
Holy  Spirit. 

31.  What  more  on  this  subject  does  Paul  write  in  the 

same  connection? 

"As  many  as  are  led  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  these 
are  sons  of  God.  For  ye  received  not  the  spirit  of 
bondage  again  to  fear;  but  ye  received  the  spirit  of 
adoption,  whereby  we  cry,  Abba,  Father."  (Rom. 
8:14,  I5-) 

32.  What  did  Jesus  say  concerning  the  sanctification 

of  His  disciples? 

He  prayed  the  Father  to  "sanctify  them  in  the 
truth,"  and  then  He  added :  "For  their  sakes  I  sane- 


Salvation  in  Christ.  37 

tify  Myself,  that  they  themselves  may  be  sanctified 
in  truth."     (John  17:  19.) 

33.  What  does  Paul  say  about  sanctification? 
"God  chose  you  from  the  beginning  unto  salva- 
tion in  sanctification  of  the  Spirit  and  belief  of  the 
truth :  whereunto  He  called  you  through  our  gos- 
pel to  the  obtaining  of  the  glory  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ."      (2   Thess.   2:13.)     "The   God  of  peace 
Himself  sanctify  you  wholly;  and  may  your  spirit 
and   soul   and   body  be   preserved   entire,    without 
blame  at  the  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ."     (i 
Thess.  5:23.) 

34.  What  Christian  graces  are  produced  by  the  work- 

ing of  the  Spirit  of  God  in  our  hearts? 
"The  fruit  of  the  Spirit  is  love,  joy,  peace,  long- 
suffering,    kindness,    goodness,    faithfulness,    meek- 
ness, self-control."     (Gal.  5:22.) 

35.  What   is  the  greatest  of  all   spiritual    gifts  and 

graces? 

The  greatest  of  all  is  love;  for  no  gifts  of  tongues, 
or  prophecy,  or  knowledge,  or  faith,  and  no  works 
which  we  can  do  amount  to  anything  apart  from 
love.  Jesus  taught  that  all  the  commandments  of 
God  and  all  the  messages  of  the  prophets  hang 
upon  the  two  commandments  of  love  to  God  and 
to  man  (Matt.  22:37-40);  and,  Paul,  also  writes: 
"Now  abideth  faith,  hope,  love,  these  three;  but  the 
greatest  of  these  is  love."  (i  Cor.  13: 13.) 

36.  How  may  we   define  the  attainment  of  perfect 

Christian  love? 

It  is  a  profound  conviction  and  assurance  of  our 
Heavenly  Father's  great  love  for  us  wrought  in  the 


38         Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

soul  by  the  immediate  operation  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
and  accompanied  with  a  hallowing  experience  of  in- 
ward purity  and  a  continuous  consecration  of  our- 
selves wholly  to  the  service  of  God. 

37.  What  does  James  write  about  the  discipline  of 
trial? 

"Count  it  all  joy  when  ye  fall  into  manifold 
trials,  knowing  that  the  proving  of  your  faith  work- 
eth  patience.  And  let  patience  have  perfect  work, 
that  ye  may  be  perfect  and  entire,  lacking  in  noth- 
ing." (James  1:2-4.) 

88.  What  are  we  taught  in  Heb.  12:  3-13,  concerning 
the  moral  value  of  affliction? 

Whom  our  Heavenly  Father  loves  He  chastens, 
so  that  personal  trials  may  prove  tokens  of  Divine 
affection,  God  thus  caring  for  us  and  aiming  to  make 
us  partakers  of  His  holiness. 

39.  What   Is  Paul's   language  on  this  subject  in  2 

Cor.  4:  17? 

"Our  light  affliction,  which  is  for  the  moment, 
worketh  for  us  more  and  more  exceedingly  an  eter- 
nal weight  of  glory ;  while  we  look  not  at  the  things 
which  are  seen,  but  at  the  things  which  are  not  seen : 
for  the  things  which  are  seen  are  temporal;  but  the 
things  which  are  not  seen  are  eternal." 

40.  What  are  the  established  Means  of  Grace? 
There  are  at  least  five  which  have  always  been 

recognized  by  the  followers  of  Christ,  and  which  are 
helpful  to  the  cultivation  of  the  Christian  life: 
(i.)  The  Church,  or  household  of  God,  which 


Salvation  in  Christ.  39 

"is  built  upon  the  foundation  of  the  apostles  and 
prophets,  Christ  Jesus  Himself  being  the  chief  cor- 
ner-stone; in  whom  each  several  building,  fitly 
framed  together,  groweth  into  a  holy  temple  in  the 
Lord;  in  whom  ye  also  are  builded  together  for  a 
habitation  of  God  in  the  Spirit."  (Eph.  2:  20-22.) 

(2.)  The  sacraments  of  baptism  and  the  Lord's 
Supper,  which  are  signs  and  seals  of  the  new  cov- 
enant of  which  Jesus  is  Mediator. 

(3.)  The  public  and  private  worship  of  God,  by 
means  of  which  we  cultivate  personal  piety  and 
openly  acknowledge  and  glorify  our  Heavenly  Fa- 
ther. 

(4.)  The  ministry  of  the  gospel  which  is  to  be 
preached  to  all  peoples  as  the  good  news  of  salva- 
tion in  Jesus  Christ. 

(5.)  Diligent  activity  in  all  kinds  of  Christian 
work,  and  doing  unto  others  whatsoever  we  would 
that  they  should  do  unto  us. 

41.  What  are  we  to  understand  by  prayer  unto  God? 

It  is  the  opening  of  the  heart  before  our  Heav- 
enly Father  in  earnest  confession  of  personal  wants 
and  in  humble  entreaty  for  Divine  favor.  It  may 
combine  thanksgiving  for  manifold  mercies,  hallow- 
ing the  name  and  the  attributes  of  God,  acknowledg- 
ment of  obligations,  and  supplication  for  all  manner 
of  temporal  and  spiritual  blessings. 

42.  What  Is  our  Lord's  most  memorable  saying  about 

secret  prayer? 

"When  thou  prayest,  enter  into  thine  inner  cham- 
ber, and  having  shut  thy  door,  pray  to  thy  Father 


40         Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

who  is  in  secret,  and  thy  Father  who  seeth  in  secret 
shall  recompense  thee."    (Matt.  6:6.) 

43.  What  is  written  concerning  the  priesthood  and 
intercession  of  Christ? 

(i.)  Paul  says  that  He  "is  at  the  right  hand  of 
God,  and  maketh  intercession  for  us."  He  also  de- 
clares that  "the  Spirit  Himself  also  maketh  inter- 
cession for  us  with  groanings  that  can  not  be  ut- 
tered," and  He  "maketh  intercession  for  the  saints 
according  to  the  will  of  God."  (Rom.  8 :  26,  27,  34.) 

(2.)  It  is  also  written  that  we  have  "a  great 
High  Priest,  who  hath  passed  through  the  heavens, 
Jesus,  the  Son  of  God;  not  a  high  priest  that  can 
not  be  touched  with  the  feeling  of  our  infirmities, 
but  one  that  hath  been  tempted  in  all  points  like  as 
we  are,  yet  without  sin.  Such  a  high  priest  became 
us,  holy,  harmless,  undefiled,  separated  from  sinners, 
and  made  higher  than  the  heavens.  .  .  .  For 
Christ  entered  not  into  a  holy  place  made  with 
hands,  but  into  heaven  itself,  now  to  appear  before 
the  face  of  God  for  us.  He  abideth  forever,  and 
hath  His  priesthood  unchangeable.  Wherefore  also 
He  is  able  to  save  to  the  uttermost  them  that  draw 
near  unto  God  through  Him,  seeing  He  ever  liveth 
to  make  intercession  for  them.  .  .  .  Christ  hav- 
ing come  a  high  priest  of  the  good  things  to  come, 
through  the  greater  and  more  perfect  tabernacle, 
not  made  with  hands,  nor  yet  through  the  blood  of 
goats  and  calves,  but  through  His  own  blood,  entered 
in  once  for  all  into  the  holy  place,  having  obtained 
eternal  redemption."  (Heb.  4: 14,  15;  7:24,  25,  26; 
9:11,  12,24.) 


Salvation  in  Christ.  41 

44.  What  specially  do  these  Scriptures  signify  for  us? 
By  means  of  figurative  terms  and  symbolical  al- 
lusions to  the  ritual  of  a  consecrated  priesthood, 
they  show  that  Christ's  great  work  of  mediation  is 
an   affecting  revelation  of  our   Heavenly   Father's 
love  toward  us.    What  Christ  feels  and  does  for  us 
is  true  of  the  Father  also.     And  so  in  Christ  we 
behold    the    unfailing    love    Divine,    which    effects 
through  its  own  eternal  power  and  wisdom  the  re- 
demption of  mankind. 

45.  Do  the   Scriptures  teach   that  all    men   will    be 

finally  saved? 

They  do  not.  When  Jesus  was  asked  the  ques- 
tion, "Are  they  few  that  are  saved?"  he  replied, 
"Strive  to  enter  in  by  the  narrow  door:  for  many, 
I  say  unto  you,  shall  seek  to  enter  in,  and  shall  not 
be  able."  (Luke  xiii,  24.)  Many  seek  entrance  by 
a  false  door,  a  wide  gate,  and  a  broad  way,  which 
leads  rather  to  destruction.  (Cf.  Matt.  7: 13.) 

46.  Cite  other  Scriptures  bearing  on  this  question. 

(i.)  In  i  Tim.  2:4,  it  is  said  that  God,  our 
Savior,  is  willing  and  desirous  that  all  men  should 
be  saved  and  come  to  a  knowledge  of  the  truth ;  and 
in  chapter  4:  10,  we  are  told  that  the  living  God  "is 
the  Savior  of  all  men,  specially  of  them  that  be- 
lieve." 

(2.)  The  same  truth  is  expressed  in  2  Pet.  3:  9, 
where  we  are  told  that  the  Lord  is  longsuffering, 
and  does  not  wish  that  any  should  perish,  but  that  all 
should  come  to  repentance. 

(3-)  Jesus  also  said,  with  great  emphasis:  "Ex- 


42        Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

cept  ye  be  converted,  and  become  as  little  children, 
ye  shall  in  no  wise  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
heaven."  (Matt  18:3.) 

(4.)  To  the  same  effect  speak  all  those  Scrip- 
tures which  affirm  that  the  salvation  of  God  in 
Christ  can  be  realized  only  on  the  conditions  of 
repentance,  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  obedience 
to  the  truth. 

47.  Who,  then,  must  finally  fail  of  the  salvation  of 

Christ? 

All  those  who  willfully  persist  in  their  sins  and 
reject  the  great  provisions  and  offer  of  salvation. 

48.  What  are  we  to  think  of  the  individuals,  peoples, 

and  nations  which  have  never  heard  of  the 
Gospel  of  Christ? 

'(i.)  No  man  can  be  justly  held  to  blame  for 
what  he  could  not  help. 

(2.)  God  has  not  left  Himself  without  witness 
of  His  goodness  among  any  of  the  nations.  (Cf. 
Acts  14: 1 6,  17.) 

(3.)  His  everlasting  power  and  Divinity  are 
manifested  in  the  works  of  His  creation,  and  His 
wrath  against  all  ungodliness  of  men  is  revealed 
from  heaven  sufficiently  to  leave  all  men  without  ex- 
cuse for  their  persistent  sinning.  (Cf.  Rom. 
1 : 18-20.) 

'(4.)  The  human  heart  the  wide  world  over 
shows  the  operation  of  God's  law  therein,  and  the 
conscience  and  the  moral  sense  accuse  or  excuse 
every  man  according  to  the  light  he  has  and  the 
respect  he  shows  it.  (Cf.  Rom.  2: 14,  15.) 


Salvation  in  Christ.  43 

(5.)  The  conditions  of  salvation  are  not  a  mere 
matter  of  knowledge  or  comparative  enlightenment, 
but  rather  of  faith  and  obedience  to  that  measure  of 
the  true  light  that  lighteth  every  man. 

(6.)  "God  is  no  respecter  o'f  persons,  but  in 
every  nation  he  that  feareth  Him  and  worketh  right- 
eousness, is  acceptable  to  Him."  (Acts  10:35.) 


Jffffilj. 

THE  MISSION  AND  THE  MINISTRY  OF  THE 
SPIRIT. 

1.  What   special   promise   to    His   disciples  appears 

among  the  last  sayings  of  Jesus? 

"Behold,  I  send  forth  the  promise  of  My  Father 
upon  you;  but  tarry  ye  in  the  city  of  Jerusalem 
until  ye  be  clothed  with  power  from  on  high." 
(Luke  24:49.) 

2.  How  is  this  recorded  in  Acts  1:  4,  5? 

"Being  assembled  together  with  them,  He 
charged  them  not  to  depart  from  Jerusalem,  but  to 
wait  for  the  promise  of  the  Father.  .  .  .  Ye 
shall  be  baptized  in  the  Holy  Spirit  not  many  days 
hence." 

3.  What  had  Jesus  previously  said  to  them  about  His 

going  away  and  sending  them  the  Spirit? 

"I  tell  you  the  truth :  it  is  expedient  for  you  that 
I  go  away;  for  if  I  go  not  away,  the  Comforter  will 
not  come  unto  you;  but  if  I  go  I  will  send  Him  unto 
you."  (John  16:  7,  8.) 

4.  What  is  meant  by  the  word  Comforter? 

It  means  not  only  one  who  gives  comfort,  con- 
solation, and  peace,  but  also  a  helper,  an  advocate, 
an  intercessor. 


Mission  and  Ministry  of  the  Spirit.     45 

5.  How  does  Jesus  further  describe  the  Comforter? 

He  calls  Him  "the  Spirit  of  Truth,  that  proceed- 
eth  from  the  Father,"  "the  Holy  Spirit,  whom  the 
Father  will  send  in  My  name,  and  whom  I  will  send 
unto  you  from  the  Father." 

6.  What  are  the  distinctive  operations  of  the  Holy 

Spirit? 

(i.)  To  convict  the  hearts  of  men  with  a  deep 
sense  of  the  deadly  nature  of  sin,  the  universal  and 
eternal  worth  of  righteousness,  and  the  certainty  of 
judgment  to  come  upon  every  soul  of  man  according 
to  his  deeds. 

(2.)  To  effect  the  regeneration  of  all  who  are 
born  from  above. 

(3.)  To  effect  the  sanctification  of  believers  in 
Christ. 

(4.)  To  bear  witness  with  our  spirit  that  we  are 
children  of  God. 

(5.)  To  make  known  unto  us  the  things  of  God, 
and  to  guide  us  into  all  the  truth. 

(6.)  To  clothe  the  human  soul  with  power  from 
on  high,  and  quicken  all  our  spiritual  gifts. 

(7.)  To  help  our  infirmities,  make  intercession 
for  the  saints,  and  abide  with  us  continuously. 

7.  Why  was  it  expedient  for  Jesus  to  depart  from 

the  sight  of  men  and  go  to  the  Father? 

Because  the  spiritual  and  eternal  things  of  God 
can  not  be  seen  by  mortal  eyes,  and  the  Spirit  of 
God  could  not  be  properly  apprehended  as  a  univer- 
sal presence  and  power  whilst  Christ  remained  in 
the  flesh,  confined  to  a  particular  country  and  place. 


46        Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

8.  What  does  Paul   say  about  faith   and   sight,  and 

things  temporal  and  things  eternal? 

"We  walk  by  faith,  not  by  sight.  We  look  not 
at  the  things  which  are  seen,  but  at  the  things  which 
are  not  seen ;  for  the  things  which  are  seen  are  tem- 
poral; but  the  things  which  are  not  seen  are  eter- 
nal." (2  Cor.  4: 18;  5:7.) 

9.  How  does  Jesus  speak  of  Himself  and  of  the  Com- 

forter as  unseen,  but  known? 

He  was  Himself  in  His  bodily  presence  a  Com- 
forter, Advocate,  and  Helper,  but  He  declared  that 
the  Father  "shall  give  you  another  Comforter,  that 
He  may  abide  with  you  forever,  even  the  Spirit  of 
truth,  whom  the  world  can  not  receive;  for  it  be- 
holdeth  Him  not,  neither  knoweth  Him.  Ye  know 
Him,  for  He  abideth  with  you,  and  shall  be  in 
you."  (John  14:  17.) 

10.  When  and  how  was  the  promised  outpouring  of 

the  Spirit  first  signally  received? 
On  the  Day  of  Pentecost,  when  the  apostles  and 
many  others  "were  all  together  in  one  place,  and 
suddenly  there  came  from  heaven  a  sound  as  of  the 
rushing  of  a  mighty  wind,  and  they  were  all  filled 
with  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  began  to  speak  with  other 
tongues,  as  the  Spirit  gave  them  utterance."  (Acts 
2:1-4.) 

11.  How  did  Peter  explain  this  new  and  wonderful 

event? 

He  declared  it  to  be  the  fulfillment  of  Joel's 
prophecy  that  in  the  last  days  God  would  pour  out 
His  Spirit  upon  all  flesh,  and  men  and  women  should 


Mission  and  Ministry  of  the  Spirit.    47 

prophesy.  He  also  declared  that  the  risen  Jesus, 
"being  by  the  right  hand  of  God  exalted,  and  having 
received  of  the  Father  the  promise  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  hath  poured  forth  this,  which  ye  see  and 
hear."  (Acts  2: 33.) 

12.  Why  was  this  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  called  "the 

promise  of  the  Father?" 

Because  it  was  the  fulfillment  of  many  a  prom- 
ise given  by  God  through  the  ancient  prophets  (as 
Joel  2:28,  29;  Isa.  32:15;  44:3;  Ezek.  36:27); 
the  heavenly  gift  also  proceedeth  from  the  Father, 
and  abides  with  us  as  a  witness  to  "the  blessing  of 
Abraham  in  Christ  Jesus,  that  we  might  receive 
the  promise  of  the  Spirit  through  faith."  (Gal. 
3:  I4-) 

13.  How  is  this  gift  of  the  Spirit  spoken  of  in  1  John 

2:  20,  27? 

"Ye  have  an  anointing  from  the  Holy  One,  and 
ye  know  all  things.  .  .  .  The  anointing  which 
ye  received  of  Him  abideth  in  you,  and  ye  need  not 
that  any  one  teach  you;  but  as  His  anointing  teach- 
eth  you  concerning  all  things  and  is  true,  and  is  no 
lie,  and  even  as  it  taught  you,  ye  abide  in  Him." 

14.  What   significance    have   the    anointing    and   the 

teaching  in  this  last-cited  passage? 

The  statement  means  that  the  Spirit  is  given  as 
a.  special  impartation  of  life  and  power  from  above, 
consecrating  the  soul  of  the  recipient  to  all  holy 
activities,  and,  as  Jesus  taught,  guiding  into  all  the 
truth. 


48         Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

15.  What  did  Jesus  say  of  the  Spirit  as  a  revealer  of 

the  truth? 

"He  shall  guide  you  into  all  the  truth;  He  shall 
declare  unto  you  the  things  that  are  to  come.  He 
shall  glorify  Me;  for  He  shall  take  of  Mine,  and 
shall  declare  it  unto  you."  (John  16: 13-15.) 

16.  Is  the  ministry  of  the  Holy  Spirit  as  efficient  now 

as  in  the  times  of  the  apostles? 
The  Spirit  is  now  as  ever  the  supreme  and  im- 
mediate guide  of  every  true  disciple  of  Jesus.  Like 
Jesus  Christ  Himself  He  abides  yesterday,  to-day, 
and  forever  the  same,  and  without  His  living  pres- 
ence and  power  we  can  neither  know  nor  do  the 
truth. 

17.  How  did  Jesus  comfort  His  disciples  In  view  of 

the  persecutions  that  were  sure  to  come? 

He  said:  "When  they  deliver  you  up,  be  not 
anxious  how  or  what  ye  shall  speak;  for  it  shall  be 
given  you  in  that  hour  what  ye  shall  speak.  For  it 
is  not  ye  that  speak,  but  the  Spirit  of  your  Father 
that  speaketh  in  you."  (Matt  10:  19,  20.) 

18.  Why  was  It  necessary  that  the  apostles  should 

not  depart  from  Jerusalem  until  clothed  with 
the  power  from  on  high? 

For  the  reason  that  without  this  sure  witness  of 
the  Spirit  they  would  not  be  able  to  preach  ef- 
fectively the  new  gospel  of  the  kingdom  for  a  tes- 
timony among  the  nations.  It  was  necessary  that 
they  first  be  made  "partakers  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and 
taste  the  good  word  of  God,  and  the  powers  of  the 


Mission  and  Ministry  of  the  Spirit.    49 

age  to  come."  (Heb.  6:4,  5.)  Thus  only  could  they 
preach  what  they  knew  by  personal  experience  of 
the  same. 

19.  What  are  the  relations  of  the  Father,  the  Son, 

and  the  Spirit? 

In  the  mystic  and  mysterious  interrelations  of 
Father,  Son,  and  Spirit,  we  recognize  an  adorable 
Unity.  The  Son  is  the  only  begotten  of  the  Father 
(John  1:14,  18;  3:  16) ;  tKe  Spirit  proceeds  from 
the  Father  (John  15 : 27) ;  the  Son  and  the  Spirit  are 
sent  by  the  Father  (John  3:34;  14:26),  and  the 
Spirit  is  sent  both  by  the  Father  and  the  Son  (John 
14:26;  15:26.) 

20.  What  impressive  formulas  of  worship  in  the  New 

Testament   magnify  these   relations? 

The  command  to  baptize  "into  the  name  of  the 
Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Spirit" 
(Matt.  28: 19),  and  the  benediction  in  2  Cor.  13: 14, 
"The  grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  love 
of  God,  and  the  communion  of  the  Holy  Spirit  be 
with  you  all." 

21.  What  similar  invocation  Is  found  in  the  Revela- 

tion of  John  (1:4,  5)? 

"Grace  and  peace  from  '(i)~  Him  wfio  is  an3  who 
was  and  who  is  to  come;  and  (2)  from  the  seven 
Spirits  which  are  before  the  throne:  and  (3)  from 
Jesus  Christ,  the  faithful  Witness,  the  firstborn  of 
the  dead,  and  the  Ruler  of  the  kings  of  the  earth.** 
Here  we  observe  a  threefold  or  trinitarian  form  of 
benediction. 

4 


SO        Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

22.  What  other   New  Testament  texts  conform  to 

these   trinitarian    suggestions? 

(i.)  In  i  Cor.  12:4,  5,  we  read  of  "the  same 
Spirit,  the  same  Lord,  and  the  same  God." 

(2.)  In  i  Peter  i :  2,  we  read  of  "the  foreknowl- 
edge of  God  the  Father,  sanctification  of  the  Spirit, 
and  sprinkling  of  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ." 

23.  How  is  Christ's  relation  to  the  Father  made  con- 

spicuous at  the  beginning  of  all  the  Epistles  of 
Paul? 

By  associating  the  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  along  with  that  of  the  Father  as  the  adorable 
source  of  all  saving  grace,  mercy,  and  peace. 


9? rttott 
THE  KINGDOM  AND  THE  COMING  OF  CHRIST. 


1,  With  what  announcement  did  both  John  and 
begin  their  public  ministry? 

"The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand."     (Matt. 
3:2;  4:  17.) 
2   What  was  the  preaching  of  the  first  apostles? 

"The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand."  (Matt 
10:  7;  Luke  10:  9,  n.) 

3.  What  must  the  Jewish  people  at  that  time  have 

understood  by  such  a  proclamation? 
That  the  reign  of  the  Messiah,  the  Christ,  of 
whom  the  prophets  had  spoken,  was  about  to  be- 
gin. 

4.  Cite  some  of  the  Old  Testament  Scriptures  which 

were  believed  to  refer  to  the  Messiah,  and 
which  begat  great  expectation  and  longing  for 
His  coming. 

(i.)  The  promise  to  David  that  God  would  es- 
tablish the  throne  of  His  kingdom  forever.  (2  Sam. 
7: 12-16.) 

(2.)  "Jehovah  said  unto  Me,  Thou  art  My  Son; 
this  day  have  I  begotten  Thee.  Ask  of  Me  and  I 
will  give  Thee  the  nations  for  Thine  inheritance, 
and  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  for  Thy  pos- 
session." (Psa.  2:7,  8.) 

(3.)  "Unto  us  a  Child  is  born,  unto  us  a  Son  is 
51 


52         Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

given;  and  the  government  shall  be  upon  His  shoul- 
der ;  and  His  name  shall  be  called  Wonderful,  Coun- 
selor, Mighty  God,  Everlasting  Father,  Prince  of 
Peace.  Of  the  increase  of  His  government  and  of 
peace  there  shall  be  no  end,  upon  the  throne  of 
David,  and  upon  his  kingdom  to  establish  it,  and  to 
uphold  it  with  justice  and  with  righteousness  from 
henceforth  and  forever."  (Isa.  9:6,  7.) 

(4.)  "In  the  latter  days  it  shall  come  to  pass 
that  the  mountain  of  Jehovah's  house  shall  be  es- 
tablished on  the  top  of  the  mountains,  and  it  shall 
be  exalted  above  the  hills;  and  peoples  shall  flow 
unto  it  And  many  nations  shall  go  and  say,  Come 
ye,  and  let  us  go  up  to  the  mountain  of  Jehovah,  and 
to  the  house  of  the  God  of  Jacob;  and  He  will  teach 
us  of  His  ways,  and  we  will  walk  in  His  paths.  For 
out  of  Zion  shall  go  forth  the  law,  and  the  word  of 
Jehovah  from  Jerusalem;  and  He  will  judge  be- 
tween many  peoples,  and  will  decide  concerning 
strong  nations  afar  off;  and  they  shall  beat  their 
swords  into  plowshares,  and  their  spears  into  prun- 
ing-hooks;  nation  shall  not  lift  up  sword  against 
nation,  neither  shall  they  learn  war  any  more.  But 
they  shall  sit  every  man  under  his  vine  and  under 
his  fig-tree;  and  none  shall  make  them  afraid." 
(Micah  4: 1-4.) 

(5.)  "Behold,  the  man  whose  name  is  the 
Branch ;  and  He  shall  grow  up  out  of  His  place,  and 
He  shall  build  the  temple  of  Jehovah;  and  he  shall 
bear  the  glory,  and  shall  sit  and  rule  upon  His 
throne;  and  He  shall  be  a  Priest  upon  His  throne; 
and  the  counsel  of  peace  shall  be  upon  them  both." 
(Zech.  6: 12,  13.) 


Kingdom  and  Coming  of  Christ.      53 

(6.)  "I  saw  in  the  night  visions,  and,  behold, 
there  came  with  the  clouds  of  heaven  one  like  unto 
a  Son  of  man,  and  He  came  to  the  Ancient  of  days, 
and  they  brought  Him  near  before  Him.  And  there 
was  given  Him  dominion,  and  glory,  and  a  kingdom, 
that  all  the  peoples,  nations,  and  languages  should 
serve  Him:  His  dominion  is  an  everlasting  dominion, 
which  shall  not  pass  away,  and  His  kingdom  that 
which  shall  not  be  destroyed."  (Dan.  7: 13,  14.) 

5.  What  did  Jesus  teach  concerning  the  nature  of  the 
kingdom? 

(i.)  By  calling  it  "the  kingdom  of  heaven"  He 
clearly  indicated  its  heavenly  origin  and  its  spir- 
itual character. 

(2.)  He  also  said,  "My  kingdom  is  not  of  this 
world."  (John  18:36.) 

(3.)  In  teaching  to  pray,  "Thy  kingdom  come, 
Thy  will  be  done,  as  in  heaven,  so  on  earth,"  He  in- 
dicated that  the  doing  of  God's  will  on  earth  as  in 
heaven  is  to  bring  the  kingdom  of  God  into  this 
world. 

(4.)  Concerning  one's  entrance  into  the  king- 
dom, He  said  to  Nicodemus,  "Except  a  man  be  born 
again,  he  can  not  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God." 

(5.)  When  His  disciples  asked,  "Who  is  greatest 
in  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ?"  he  set  a  little  child  in 
the  midst  of  them,  and  said,  "Except  ye  turn  and 
become  as  little  children,  ye  shall  in  no  wise  enter 
into  the  kingdom  of  heaven."  (Matt.  18:  3.) 

(6.)  Of  rulership  and  authority  in  His  kingdom, 
the  Lord  said  also  to  the  disciples:  "Whosoever 
would  become  great  among  you  shall  be  your  min- 


54        Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

ister,  and  whosoever  would  be  first  among  you,  shall 
be  bondservant  of  all."  (Mark  10:43,  44-) 

(7.)  Touching  inordinate  love  of  money  and  the 
world,  He  said,  "Children,  how  hard  is  it  for  them 
that  trust  in  riches  to  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
God!"  (Mark  10:24.) 

(8.)  This  kingdom  is  for  the  propagation  of 
Truth;  for  Jesus  said  to  Pilate,  "I  am  a  King;  to 
this  end  have  I  been  born,  and  to  this  end  am  I  come 
into  the  world,  that  I  should  bear  witness  unto  the 
truth.  Every  one  that  is  of  the  truth  heareth  My 
voice."  (John  18:37.) 

(9.)  The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  the  special  boon 
of  such  as  are  "poor  in  spirit"  (Matt  5:3.),  "per- 
secuted for  righteousness'  sake"  (5:  10),  and  whose 
righteousness  shall  "exceed  that  of  the  scribes  and 
Pharisees  (5  :2o);  it  is  for  such  also  as  do  and 
teach  the  commandments  of  God.  (5  :  19.) 

(10.)  John  the  Baptist,  though  greater  than  all 
the  prophets  that  went  before  him,  was  less  than 
"he  that  is  little  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven."  (Matt, 
ii :  n.) 

6.  What  is  the  significance  of  this  statement  of  Jesus 

about  John? 

It  emphasizes  the  fact  that  with  all  his  superi- 
ority as  a  prophet  John  did  not  become  fully  ac- 
quainted with  the  gospel  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ, 
so  as  to  know  "the  mysteries  of  the  kingdom  of 
heaven."  (Matt.  13:  n.) 

7   What  are  the  mysteries  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven? 
The  sacred  truths,  facts,  and  experiences  of  spir- 
itual life  in  God  which  are  known  only  to  them  who 


Kingdom  and  Coming  of  Christ.       55 

by  a  living. faith  accept  the  salvation  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  after  His  complete  manifestation  in  the  flesh 
and  His  glorification  at  the  right  hand  of  God. 

8.  What    does     Paul     write    about    these     heavenly 

secrets? 

"Things  which  eyes  saw  not,  and  ear  heard  not, 
and  which  entered  not  into  the  heart  of  man,  what- 
soever things  God  prepared  for  them  that  love  Him, 
God  hath  revealed  unto  us  through  the  Spirit"  (i 
Cor.  2:9,  10.) 

9.  What  are  the  great  laws  of  the  kingdom  of  God? 

The  commandments  of  God,  several  examples  of 
which  Jesus  briefly  mentions  in  Matt.  19:  18,  19; 
Luke  18 :  20;  but  which  appear  in  the  Old  Testament 
as  a  Decalogue  (see  Ex.  20:  3-17,  and  Deut. 
5:7-21)  ;  and  they  are  in  substance  as  follows: 

First  Table. 

1  Thou  shalt  have  no  other  gods  before  me. 
z  Thou  shalt  not  make  for  thyself  any  graven 
image. 

3  Thou  shalt  not  take  the  name  of  God  in  vain. 

4  Remember  the  Sabbath-day  to  keep  it  holy. 

5  Honor  thy  father  and  thy  mother. 

Second  Table. 

e  Thou  shalt  not  commit  murder. 

7  Thou  shalt  not  commit  adultery. 

8  Thou  shalt  not  steal. 

9  Thou  shalt  not  bear  false  witness. 

10  Thou   shalt  not  covet  anything  that  is   thy 
neighbor's. 


56        Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

10.  Which  of  all  the  commandments  did  Jesus  pro- 

nounce first  and  greatest? 

"The  first  is,  Hear,  O  Israel,  the  Lord  our  God 
is  one,  and  thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with 
all  thy  heart,  and  with  all  thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy 
mind,  and  with  all  thy  strength.  The  second  is  this : 
Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself.  There  is 
none  other  commandment  greater  than  these.  On 
these  two  commandments  the  whole  law  hangeth, 
and  the  prophets."  (Mark  12:29-31;  Matt.  22: 
37-49-) 

11.  How  did  Jesus  express  the  Golden  Rule? 

"All  things  whatsoever  ye  would  that  men  should 
do  unto  you,  even  so  also  do  ye  unto  them ;  for  this 
is  the  law  and  the  prophets."  (Matt  7: 12.) 

12.  How   does   Paul   speak  of  this  great  command- 

ment? 

He  says  that  "the  whole  law  is  fulfilled  in  one 
word,  even  in  this:  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor 
as  thyself."  (Gal.  5: 14.) 

13.  In  what  manner  does  the  teaching  of  Jesus  ful- 

fill and  exalt  the  great  moral  precepts  of  the 
Decalogue? 

(i.)  It  makes  emphatic  the  fundamental  truth 
that  love  of  God  and  love  of  man  are  essential  to  the 
highest  moral  excellence. 

(2.)  It  transfigures  and  fulfills  the  letter  of  the 
Ten  Commandments  by  showing  that  murder,  adul- 
tery, theft,  and  all  other  immorality  are  committed 
when  any  one  admits  the  desire  or  the  purpose  in 
his  heart  (Cf.  Matt  5:22,  28.) 


Kingdom  and  Coming  of  Christ.       57 

(3.)  It  admonished  the  young  man  who  pos- 
sessed many  goods  that  a  perfect  love  of  God  and 
of  man  would  lead  him  to  impart  to  the  poor  with 
great  liberality  and  affection.  (Matt.  19  :2i;  Mark 
10  :2i;  Luke  18  :22.) 

(4.)  It  gives  a  new  and  deeper  significance 
to  every  ethical  precept  of  the  law  and  the  prophets 
by  the  enunciation  of  a  positive  principle  rather 
than  a  negative  prohibition. 

14.  What  further  does  Paul  teach  concerning  the  con- 

trast between  the  law  and  the  gospel? 

(i.)  He  says  that  we  are  not  under  law,  but 
under  grace,  and  "the  Spirit  of  life  in  Christ  makes 
us  free  from  the  law  of  sin  and  of  death."  (Rom. 
6: 14;  8:  2-4.) 

(2.)  Before  the  manifestation  of  Christ  we  were 
like  children  kept  in  ward;  but  after  we  attain  jus- 
tification by  faith  in  Jesus  Christ  we  are  no  longer 
under  the  tutorship  of  the  Mosaic  law,  but  sons  of 
God,  and  freemen  in  Christ.  (Gal.  3 :  23-26.) 

(3.)  By  means  of  an  allegory  of  the  two  cove- 
nants, he  points  out  that  we  are  children  of  the  new 
Jerusalem  rather  than  of  Mount  Sinai,  and  the  dis- 
tinguishing feature  of  the  new  relationship  is  free- 
dom from  the  bondage  of  the  law. 

15.  How  did  Paul  regard  those  Jewish  Christians  who 

insisted  on  keeping  the  statutes  of  the  Mosaic 
law? 

He  speaks  of  them  as  severed  from  Christ,  and 
fallen  away  from  grace  (Gal.  5:4);  as  seeking  per- 
fection in  the  flesh  rather  than  in  the  Spirit  (3:3); 
observing  days,  and  months,  and  seasons,  and  years 


58        Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

(4: 10),  as  if  such  outward  formalities  of  Jewish 
custom  were  essentials  of  religion. 

16.  What  is  the  teaching  of  Heb.  7:    16-22,  concern- 

ing Jesus  as  the  surety  of  a  better  covenant? 

We  are  given  to  understand  that  in  Jesus  Christ 
the  entire  Old  Testament  system,  like  the  Levitical 
priesthood,  is  changed  from  the  letter  of  a  carnal 
commandment  into  the  power  of  an  indissoluble  life. 

17.  How  did  Jesus  illustrate  the   incompatibility  of 

bondage  to  the  law  and  the  freedom  of  the 
gospel? 

By  pointing  out  the  impropriety  of  wedding 
guests  fasting  while  the  bridegroom  is  with  them, 
of  putting  new  undressed  cloth  upon  an  old  garment, 
and  of  putting  new  wine  into  old  wineskins.  (Matt. 
9:15-170 

18.  How  do  the  parables  of  Jesus  illustrate  the  na- 

ture and  the  mysteries  of  the  kingdom  of 
heaven? 

(i.)  The  parable  of  the  sower  (Matt  13:3-9) 
shows  how  the  word  of  the  kingdom — that  is,  the 
truth  of  God  and  of  Christ — may  be  received  by  dif- 
ferent classes  of  hearers,  and  what  various  results 
follow,  according  to  the  kind  of  soil  (i.  e.,  disposi- 
tions, receptivity)  in  the  human  heart  upon  which 
the  good  seed  of  the  gospel  falls. 

(2.)  The  parable  of  the  tares  '(Matt.  13:24-30) 
shows  how  the  "sons  of  the  kingdom  and  the  sons  of 
the  evil  one"  are  permitted  to  grow  together  until 
the  consummation  of  their  time,  when  there  shall  be 


Kingdom  and  Coming  of  Christ.       59 

a  separation,  and  "the  righteous  shall  shine  forth 
as  the  sun  in  the  kingdom  of  their  Father." 

(3.)  The  parable  of  the  mustard-seed  (Matt. 
JS'S1,  32)  shows  how  the  kingdom  increases  vis- 
ibly from  small  beginnings  unto  great  strength  and 
attractiveness. 

(4.)  The  parable  of  the  leaven  (Matt.  13:33) 
shows  how  the  kingdom  of  God  has  a  corresponding 
invisible  increase  and  inworking  in  the  individual, 
and  in  the  whole  mass  of  humanity. 

(5.)  The  parables  of  the  treasure  hidden  in  the 
field,  and  of  the  merchant  seeking  goodly  pearls 
(Matt  13:44-46),  show  how  different  persons  come 
by  different  ways  into  possession  of  the  spiritual 
treasures  of  the  kingdom. 

(6.)  The  parable  of  the  net  (Matt.  13:47-50) 
shows  how  the  operations  of  the  kingdom  in  this 
world  naturally  gather  in  both  good  and  bad,  and 
that  there  must  be  a  final  separation. 

(7.)  The  parable  of  the  seed  growing  secretly 
(Mark  4:26-29),  shows  that  all  the  mysteries  and 
unseen  growths  of  the  kingdom,  and  its  times  and 
seasons,  are  arranged  in  accord  with  an  order  of  the 
world  which  God  has  ordained,  but  which  it  is  not 
always  ours  to  know. 

(8.)  The  parable  of  the  laborers  (Matt  20:  1-16) 
shows  how  many  may  be  distinguished  as  first  or  as 
last — that  is,  as  superior  or  as  inferior,  in  the  king- 
dom of  God,  by  the  spirit  they  display  in  their  work, 
and  in  their  expectations  of  reward.  Not  those 
who  ask,  "What  shall  I  get?"  but  rather  those  who 


60         Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

ask,  "What  shall  I  do?"  are  reckoned  first  in  the 
kingdom. 

(9.)  The  parable  of  the  unmerciful  servant 
(Matt.  18:21-35)  shows  what  spirit  of  forgiveness 
from  the  heart  toward  an  offending  brother  is  re- 
quired in  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 

(10.)  The  parable  of  the  good  Samaritan  (Luke 
10 : 29-37)  answers  the  question,  "Who  is  my  neigh- 
bor?" and  shows  us  how  we  ought  to  love  and  treat 
him  in  his  time  of  need. 

(n.)  The  parable  of  the  two  sons  (Matt,  21 : 28- 
32),  was  an  admonition  to  the  Jewish  priests  and 
elders  that  publicans  and  harlots  might  enter  the 
kingdom  of  God  before  them. 

(12.)  The  parables  of  the  wicked  husbandmen, 
and  of  the  marriage  of  the  king's  son  (Matt.  21 :  33- 
44;  22:1-14)  were  a  like  warning  to  the  Jewish 
people  that  "the  kingdom  of  God  should  be  taken 
away  from  them  and  be  given  to  a  nation  bringing 
forth  the  fruits  thereof." 

(13.)  The  parable  of  the  ten  virgins  (Matt 
25:  1-13)  illustrates  the  necessity  of  constant  watch- 
fulness and  readiness  for  the  coming  of  the  Lord. 

(14.)  The  parable  of  the  talents  (25:  14-30)  ad- 
monishes us  that  we  are  to  do  more  than  merely 
watch  and  be  ready;  we  must  be  diligently  working 
in  our  Lord's  interests  while  He  is  away. 

(15.)  The  parable  of  the  judgment  (25:31-46) 
shows  what  eternal  issues  depend  upon  the  works  we 
do  or  fail  to  do  in  behalf  of  our  needy  brethren, 
whom  we  should  recognize  as  brethren  of  Christ 


Kingdom  and  Coming  of  Christ.       61 

19.  How  do  these  doctrines  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven 

have  vital  connection  with  all  the  social  and 
political  relations  of  mankind? 

They  proclaim  the  principles,  at  once  simple  and 
profound,  which  when  fully  observed  can  not  fail 
to  produce  universal  peace  and  good  will  among 
men.  Human  judgments  may  vary,  and  in  differ- 
ent times  and  places  men  err  from  the  truth  in 
seeking  its  practical  application;  but  the  love  of 
God  and  of  man,  shed  abroad  in  the  heart  by  the 
Holy  Spirit,  must  sooner  or  later  yield  to  every 
demand  of  righteousness,  substitute  peaceful  arbi- 
tration for  murderous  warfare,  and  seek  by  every 
possible  method  of  practical  utility  and  good  feel- 
ing to  secure  to  all  the  nations  and  to  every  indi- 
vidual the  rights  that  are  common  to  man.  The 
coming  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven  will  be  coincident 
and  coextensive  with  the  doing  of  God's  will  on 
earth  as  it  is  done  in  heaven. 

20.  What  practical  application  of  these  principles  of 

love  and  righteousness  does  Paul  make  to  our 
domestic  and  social  relations? 

He  admonishes  husbands  and  wives  to  love  one 
another  in  purest  affection  and  fidelity,  parents  and 
children  to  know  and  honor  their  hallowed  relation- 
ship, masters  and  servants  to  care  for  each  other's 
rightful  claims;  and  he  calls  upon  all  men  to  live 
in  peace,  to  abhor  what  is  evil  and  cleave  to  what 
is  good,  to  bear  one  another's  burdens  and  so  fulfill 
the  law  of  Christ 


62         Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

21  When  we  pray,  Thy  kingdom  come,  are  we  to 
look  for  the  personal  coming  of  Christ  as  well 
as  the  coming  of  His  kingdom? 

Most  assuredly;  for  nothing  in  the  Gospel  rec- 
ords is  more  certain  than  the  repeated  assertions 
of  Jesus  Himself  that  He  would  come  not  only  in 
His  kingdom,  but  also  to  receive  His  disciples  unto 
Himself  that  they  all  might  be  with  Him  and  be- 
hold Him  in  His  heavenly  glory. 

22.  What  did  Jesus  say  about  the  certainty  and  the 
nearness  of  His  coming? 

He  declared  repeatedly  and  most  emphatically 
that  He  would  come  again  in  the  near  future  and 
before  all  the  people  of  His  own  generation  should 
die;  and  He  foretold  that  the  end  or  crisis  of  that 
age  would  be  marked  by  the  overthrow  of  the  great 
city  and  temple  of  Judajsm,  that  is,  Jerusalem. 

13.  What  is  the  recorded  language  of  Jesus  touching 
the  time  of  His  coming? 

(i.)  The  Son  of  man  shall  come  in  the  glory  of 
His  Father  with  His  angels ;  and  then  shall  He  ren- 
der unto  every  man  according  to  his  deeds.  Verily 
I  say  unto  you,  there  are  some  of  them  that  stand 
here  who  shall  in  no  wise  taste  of  death  till  they 
see  the  Son  of  man  coming  in  His  kingdom."  (  Matt. 
16:27,  28.) 

(2.)  "Verily  I  say  unto  you,  there  are  some  of 
them  here  that  stand  by,  who  shall  in  no  wise  taste 
of  death  till  they  see  the  kingdom  of  God  come  with 
power."  (Mark  9:1.) 

(3.)  "I  tell  you  of  a  truth,  there  are  some  of 


Kingdom  and  Coming  of  Christ.       63 

them  that  stand  here,  who  shall  in  no  wise  taste  of 
death,  till  they  see  the  kingdom  of  God."  (Luke 
9:27.) 

(4.)  "Ye  shall  not  have  gone  through  the  cities 
of  Israel  till  the  Son  of  man  be  come."  (Matt.  10: 

23.) 

(5.)  "Verily  I  say  unto  you,  this  generation 
shall  not  pass  away  till  all  these  things  be  accom- 
plished." (Matt  24  134;  Mark  13  :3o;  Luke  21  : 
32.) 

(6.)  "Henceforth  ye  shall  see  the  Son  of  man 
sitting  at  the  right  hand  of  Power,  and  coming  on 
the  clouds  of  heaven."  (Matt  26:64;  Mark  14: 
62;  Luke  22:69.) 

24.  What  did  Jesus  say  about  the  particular  day  and 

hour  of  His  coming? 

(i.)  "Of  that  day  and  hour  knoweth  no  one, 
not  even  the  angels  of  heaven,  neither  the  Son,  but 
the  Father  only."  (Matt.  24:  36;  Mark  13:  32.) 

(2.)  "It  is  not  for  you  to  know  the  times  or 
seasons  which  the  Father  hath  set  within  His  own 
authority."  (Acts  i :  7.) 

(3.)  "Watch  therefore,  for  ye  know  not  what 
day  your  Lord  cometh.  .  .  .  In  an  hour  that  ye 
think  not  the  Son  of  man  cometh."  (Matt  24:42- 
440 

25.  What  did  Paul  write  about  the  need  of  constant 

readiness? 

"Concerning  the  times  and  seasons,  brethren,  ye 
have  no  need  that  aught  be  written  unto  you.  For 
yourselves  know  perfectly  that  the  day  of  the  Lord 
50  cometh  as  a  thief  in  the  night."  (i  Thess.  5 :  i,  2.) 


64         Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

26.  What  practical  significance  have  these  admoni- 

tions for  us  now? 

They  should  ever  serve,  by  personal  self-appli- 
cation, to  impress  upon  us  the  serious  truth,  which 
no  man  can  deny;  namely,  that  on  any  day  and  at 
any  moment  we  may  be  summoned  away  from  the 
earth  to  meet  the  realities  of  the  unseen  and  eternal 
world. 

27.  What  did  Jesus  say  about  the  manner  of   His 

coming? 

r(i.)  In  the  Scriptures  just  cited  and  in  their 
immediate  context  He  spoke  also  of  "coming  on  the 
clouds  of  heaven,  in  His  own  glory,  and  in  the  glory 
of  His  Father  with  the  holy  angels." 

(2.)  According  to  Matt.  24:29-31,  He  also  said: 

"Immediately  after  the  tribulation  of  those  days, 

The  sun  shall  be  darkened  and  the  moon  shall 
not  give  her  light, 

And  the  stars  shall  fall  from  heaven, 

And  the  powers  of  the  heavens  shall  be  shaken ; 

And  then  shall  appear  the  sign  of  the  Son  of 
man  in  heaven; 

And  then  shall  all  the  tribes  of  the  land  mourn; 

And  they  shall  see  the  Son  of  man  coming  on 
the  clouds  of  heaven  with  power  and  great  glory. 

And  He  shall  send  forth  His  angels  with  a  great 
sound  of  a  trumpet, 

And  they  shall  gather  His  elect  from  the  four 
winds, 

From  one  end  of  heaven  to  the  other." 

'(3.)  The  parallel  passage  in  Mark  13:24  reads, 


Kingdom  and  Coming  of  Christ.       65 

"in  those  days,  after  that  tribulation,"  instead  of 
"immediately  after  the  tribulation  of  those  days." 

28.  What  great  tribulation  did  Jesus  here  refer  to? 

The  unparalleled  suffering  coincident  with  the 
destruction  of  the  temple  and  the  siege  of  Jerusa- 
lem, as  the  preceding  context  shows. 

29.  Did  these  predictions  of  the  overthrow  of  Jerusa- 

lem and  the  temple  actually  come  to  pass  in 

that  generation? 

Such  is  the  unquestionable  testimony  of  all  his- 
torical records  relating  to  that  time  and  country. 
Flavius  Josephus,  himself  a  Jew  and  a  personal  wit- 
ness of  the  awful  siege,  has  left  us  an  appalling  ac- 
count of  the  miseries  of  those  who  perished  in  that 
war. 

30.  Was   it  customary  for  the  prophets  to  describe 

such  terrible  catastrophes  as  judgments  of 
God,  and  to  employ  highly  poetical  language  in 
their  oracles? 

It  is  certain  that  the  spirit,  style,  and  language 
of  the  Old  Testament  prophets,  when  referring  to 
similar  great  civil  and  national  calamities,  was  of 
the  same  cast  and  character,  as  the  four  following 
examples  show: 

(i.)  Isa.  13:9,  10,  thus  speaks  of  the  fall  of 
Babylon : 

"Behold,  the  day  of  Jehovah  cometh, 
Cruel  with  wrath  and  fierce  anger, 
To  make  the  land  a  desolation, 
And  to  destroy  its  sinners  out  of  it. 
For  the  stars  of  heaven  shall  not  give  their  light, 
5 


66         Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

And  the  sun  shall  be  darkened  in  its  going  forth, 
And  the  moon  shall  not  cause  its  light  to  shine." 
(2.)  Isa.  19:  i,  2,  thus  speaks  of  a  judgment 

of  God  on  Egypt: 

"Behold  Jehovah  rideth  upon  a  swift  cloud, 

And  He  cometh  into  Egypt, 

And  the  idols  of  Egypt  shall  tremble  at  His 

presence, 

And  the  heart  of  Egypt  shall  melt  in  the  midst 

of  it" 

(3.)  Isa.  34:4,  5,  thus  speaks  of  the  judgment 

upon  Edom: 

"And  all  the  host  of  heaven  shall  be  dissolved, 
And  the  heavens  shall  be  rolled  together  as  a 

scroll, 

And  all  their  hosts  shall  fall, 

As  the  leaf  falls  from  off  the  fig-tree. 

For  my  sword  hath  drunk  its  fill  in  heaven, 

Behold,  it  shall  come  down  upon  Edom, 

And  upon  the  people  of  my  curse,  to  judgment." 

(7.)   Dan.  7:  13,  14,  thus  speaks  of    the  coming 

of  the  kingdom  of  the  heavens: 

"I  was  gazing  in  the  visions  of  the  night, 

And   behold,    there   came   with    the    clouds    of 

heaven, 

One  like  unto  a  son  of  man; 

And  He  came  even  to  the  Ancient  of  days, 

And  they  brought  Him  near  before  Him. 

And  there  was  given  Him  dominion,  and  glory, 

and  a  kingdom, 

That  all   the  peoples,    nations,    and   languages 

should  serve  Him: 

His  dominion  is  an  everlasting  dominion,  which 

shall  not  pass  away, 


Kingdom  and  Coming  of  Christ.       67 

And  His  kingdom  that  which  shall  not  be  de- 
stroyed." 

31.  What  is  meant  by  "the  consummation  of  the  age," 

and  "the  end,"  in  Matt.  24:  3,  14;  Mark  13:  7; 
Luke  21:  9? 

The  completion  of  the  age  or  period  of  time 
which  preceded  the  times  of  the  Messiah.  The 
Jewish  people  of  that  day  called  their  own  time 
"this  age,"  and  the  time  which  should  follow  the 
coming  of  the  Messiah  "the  age  to  come." 

32.  Why  was  it  necessary  before  the  end  of  that  age 

that  "the  gospel  of  the  kingdom  be  first 
preached  in  the  whole  world  for  a  testimony 
unto  all  the  nations?"  (Matt.  24:  14.) 

Because  the  Gospel  of  the  kingdom  must  needs 
be  first  immovably  established  in  the  world  and 
among  different  peoples  before  "the  first  covenant, 
its  ordinances  of  divine  service,  and  its  sanctuary" 
(Heb.  9:1)  be  abolished.  The  Father  would  not 
take  away  the  old  system  until  he  had  fully  pre- 
pared the  way  for  the  ministry  and  the  mediation 
of  a  new  and  "better  covenant,  which  had  been  en- 
acted upon  better  promises."  (Heb.  8:6.)  In  the 
end,  "He  taketh  away  the  first  that  He  may  estab- 
lish the  second."  (Heb.  10:9.) 

33.  Was  the  gospel  thus  actually  preached  "in  all  the 

world"  before  the  overthrow  of  the  Jewish 
sanctuary  and  its  service? 

Such  is  the  clear  testimony  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment, as  the  following  Scriptures  show: 

(i.)  Paul  speaks  of  "the  word  of  the  truth  of 


68         Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

the  Gospel,  which  is  come  unto  you,  even  as  it  is 
also  in  all  the  world  bearing  fruit  and  increasing, 
as  it  doth  in  you  also,  since  the  day  ye  heard  and 
knew  the  grace  of  God  in  truth."  (Col.  1:5,  6.) 

(2.)  Again  he  says:  "Be  not  moved  away  from 
the  hope  of  the  Gospel  which  ye  heard,  which  was 
preached  in  all  creation  under  heaven,  whereof  I, 
Paul,  was  made  a  minister."  (Col.  1 :  23.) 

(3.)  The  accusation  against  Paul  before  the 
Roman  governor  alleged  that  he  was  "a  pestilent 
fellow,  and  a  mover  of  insurrections  among  all  the 
Jews  throughout  the  world."  (Acts  24:5.) 

(4.)  Also  in  Thessalonica  the  charge  of  the  Jews 
against  Paul  and  Silas  was,  "These  that  have  turned 
the  world  upside  down  are  come  hither  also."  (Acts 
17:6.) 

(5.)  According  to  Acts  11:28,  there  was  "a 
great  famine  over  all  the  world  in  the  days  of 
Claudius,"  and  according  to  Luke  2: 1,  "there  went 
out  a  decree  from  Caesar  Augustus  that  all  the  world 
should  be  enrolled."  These  statements  clearly  show 
in  what  sense  we  are  to  understand  the  words  "all 
the  world"  in  the  New  Testament  writings. 

34.  What  did  Paul  and  his  associates  find  the  chief 
obstacle  in  the  way  of  proclaiming  a  free  gos- 
pel among  the  nations? 

The  bondage  of  the  Jews  and  the  Jewish  Chris- 
tians to  the  letter  of  their  law ;  for — 

(i.)  They  taught  and  insisted  that  "except  ye 
be  circumcised  after  the  custom  of  Moses,  ye  can 
not  be  saved."  "It  is  needful  to  circumcise  [the 
Gentiles],  and  to  charge  them  to  keep  the  law  of 
Moses."  (Acts  15:  i.  5.) 


Kingdom  and  Coming  of  Christ.       69 

(2.)  According  to  Paul  they  were  "in  bondage 
to  weak  and  beggarly  rudiments:  ye  observe  days, 
and  months,  and  seasons,  and  years."  (Gal.  4:9, 
10.)  "Behold,  I,  Paul,  say  unto  you,  that,  if  ye  re- 
ceive circumcision,  Christ  will  profit  you  nothing. 
.  .  .  Ye  are  severed  from  Christ,  ye  who  would 
be  justified  by  the  law;  ye  are  fallen  away  from 
grace."  (Gal.  5:2-4.) 

(3.)  Their  test  in  judging  one's  religious  life 
was  "in  meat,  or  in  drink,  or  in  respect  of  a  feast 
day,  or  a  new  moon,  or  a  Sabbath  day."  (Col.  2 :  16.) 

(4.)  Hence  Paul's  contention  with  these  Juda- 
izers  was  that  by  insisting  on  the  bond  of  Mosaic 
ordinances,  they  "perverted  the  Gospel  of  Christ" 
(Gal.  1:7);  "for  the  kingdom  of  God  is  not  eating 
and  drinking,  but  righteousness  and  peace  and  joy 
in  the  Holy  Spirit"  (Rom.  14: 17.) 

35.  What  teaching  of  Jesus  showed   the  incompati- 

bility of  Old  Testament  ordinances  and   New 
Testament  spiritual  life? 

'(i.)  His  saying  that  fasting  is  inconsistent  with 
the  conscious  presence  of  the  bridegroom. 

(2.)  His  showing  the  unfitness  of  "putting  a 
piece  of  undressed  cloth  upon  an  old  garment" 

(3.)  Also  the  unfitness  of  putting  new  wine  in 
old  wineskins.  (Matt  9: 14-17.) 

36.  Do  not  our  Lord's  words  concerning  fasting,   in 

Matt.  6:  16,  17,  imply  that  this  Old  Testament 
practice  should  be  continued  under  the  gospel? 

'(i.)  No  more  so  than  do  His  words  in  Matt  5: 
23,  24,  imply  that  Old  Testament  altars  and  offer- 
ings should  be  continued  in  the  Gospel  age  to  come. 


70        Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

(2.)  But  fasting  may  be  practiced  as  a  personal 
and  private  means  of  grace,  if  one  feel  so  disposed. 
Our  Lord's  words  teach  that,  when  it  is  practiced, 
it  should  be  a  personal  voluntary  abstinence,  done 
in  secret;  not  an  obligation  of  law,  of  rule,  or  of 
public  observance. 

(3.)  Fasting,  like  circumcision,  festivals,  vows, 
and  other  Old  Testament  customs,  was  practiced 
among  the  Jewish  Christians  of  the  Apostolic  times. 
But  none  of  these  ancient  usages  are  obligatory  un- 
der the  Gospel,  being  in  themselves  only  shadows  of 
better  things  to  come,  and  observance  of  them  as  a 
bounden  duty  only  savors  of  the  bondage  of  the  let- 
ter. (Cf.  Col.  2:16.) 

37.  Why  does  the   New  Testament  so  generally  as- 

sume or  imply  that  the  kingdom  of  Christ  was 
a  reality  of  the  future  rather  than  of  the 
present? 

Because  all  the  ministry  of  Jesus,  His  death, 
resurrection,  and  ascension,  the  outpouring  of  the 
Spirit,  and  the  preaching  of  the  apostles  fell  in 
"the  last  days"  of  the  old  covenant,  which  was  then 
"waxing  aged,  and  was  nigh  unto  vanishing  away." 
(Heb.  8:  13.)  So  long  as  Judaism  with  its  temple 
stood,  the  kingdom  of  Christ  with  its  new  and  bet- 
ter covenant  was  delayed  in  its  coming. 

38.  What   special    significance    had    the   fall    of   the 

Jewish  sanctuary  as  the  distinctive  crisis  and 
end  of  the  age? 

It  was  a  signal  confirmation  of  the  saying  that 
"the  way  into  the  holy  place  hath  not  yet  been  made 
manifest,  while  the  first  tabernacle  is  yet  standing." 


Kingdom  and  Coming  of  Christ.       71 

(Heb.  9:8.)  And  so,  in  the  symbolism  of  John's 
Apocalypse,  "the  temple  of  God  that  is  in  heaven," 
and  its  ark  of  the  new  covenant,  are  opened,  and 
"the  kingdom  of  the  world  becomes  our  Lord's  and 
His  Christ's"  only  after  the  fall  of  the  wicked  city 
"where  the  Lord  was  crucified."  (Rev.  n  :  8,  15,  19.) 

39.  But    did    not    the    saints    of   the    apostolic    age, 

previous  to  the  fall  of  the  temple,  "have  bold- 
ness to  enter  into  the  holy  place?" 

Certainly,  as  Heb.  10:19,  implies,  for  all  the 
"saints  in  Christ,"  from  the  time  of  the  first  Pente- 
cost, "were  enlightened  and  tasted  of  the  heavenly 
gift,  and  were  made  partakers  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
and  tasted  of  the  good  word  of  God,  and  the  powers 
of  the  age  to  come."  (Heb.  6:4,  5.)  This  was  neces- 
sary in  order  that  "the  Gospel  of  the  kingdom  might 
be  preached  in  the  whole  world  for  a  testimony 
unto  all  the  nations"  (Matt.  24: 14)  before  the  end 
of  that  age  of  the  old  dispensation.  So  before  the 
end  of  that  age  the  spiritual  forces  of  the  age  to 
come  were  made  manifest. 

40.  What  significance  attaches  to  our  Lord's  saying 

to  the  Pharisees  that  "the  kingdom  of  God 
cometh  not  with  observation,"  and  "the  king- 
dom of  God  is  in  the  midst  of  you?"  (Cf.  Luke 
17:  21.) 

He  thus  admonished  them  that  His  kingdom  was 
not  of  this  world,  and  its  coming  is  not  to  be  a 
spectacle  for  fleshly  eyes.  He  informed  them  that 
the  kingdom  might  be  in  the  midst  of  them,  and 
they  at  the  same  time  be  ignorant  of  its  real  nature, 
its  spirit,  and  its  power.  In  like  manner  the  king- 


72         Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

dom  of  Christ  has  been  coming  during  all  the  Chris- 
tian centuries,  growing  and  expanding  like  the  mus- 
tard seed,  and  the  working  of  the  leaven  in  the 
meal;  it  is  coming  now,  and  will  continue  to  come 
until  the  entire  world  is  subjected  to  the  Lord 
Jesus,  for  "He  must  reign  till  He  hath  put  all  His 
enemies  under  His  feet."  (i  Cor.  15:25.) 

41.  By   what   allegory   does   Paul   contrast  the  two 

covenants  in  Gal.  4:  21-31? 

He  makes  Hagar,  the  handmaid,  represent  Mount 
Sinai  and  answer  "to  the  Jerusalem  that  now  is; 
for  she  is  in  bondage  with  her  children.  But  the 
free  woman  represents  the  Jerusalem  that  is  above, 
which  is  our  mother." 

42.  May   we   understand   this  "Jerusalem   which    is 

above"  as  identical  in  significance  with  "the 
holy  city"  which  John  saw,  "the  new  Jerusa- 
lem, coming  down  out  of  heaven  from  God?" 
Rev.  21 :  2.) 

Undoubtedly;  for  the  vision  of  that  holy  city  is 
but  a  symbol  of  the  kingdom  of  God  taking  pos- 
session of  this  world  in  God's  own  times,  and  mak- 
ing all  things  new. 

43.  How  does  that  apocalyptic  vision  answer  to  the 

prayer  taught  us  by  our  Lord? 

It  furnishes  a  fitting  and  glorious  ideal  to  the 
petition,  "Thy  kingdom  come :  Thy  will  be  done,  as 
in  heaven,  so  on  earth."  To  which  we  may  also 
add,  "Amen:  come,  Lord  Jesus;"  for  the  coming 
and  universal  triumph  of  the  kingdom  of  God  and 
of  Christ  will  be  the  joy  and  peace  of  heaven  on 
earth. 


THE  RESURRECTION  AND  THE  JUDGMENT 
TO  COME. 

1.  What  further  did   Jesus  say  about   His  coming 

again? 

"In  My  Father's  house  are  many  mansions;  T 
go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you.  And  if  I  go  and 
prepare  a  place  for  you,  I  come  again,  and  will  re- 
ceive you  unto  Myself;  that  where  I  am,  there  ye 
may  be  also."  (John  14:3.) 

2.  What  is  said  in  Acts  1:  10,  11,  about  His  going  into 

heaven  and  coming  from  heaven? 

"And  while  they  were  looking  steadfastly  into 
heaven  as  He  went,  behold  two  men  stood  by  them 
in  white  apparel;  who  also  said,  Ye  men  of  Galilee, 
why  stand  ye  looking  into  heaven?  This  Jesus, 
who  was  received  up  from  you  into  heaven,  shall 
so  come  even  as  ye  beheld  Him  going  into  heaven." 

3.  How  did  Paul  write  concerning  this  to  the  Thes- 

salonians? 

"The  Lord  Himself  shall  descend  from  heaven, 
with  a  shout,  with  the  voice  of  the  archangel  and 
with  the  trump  of  God,  and  the  dead  in  Christ  shall 
rise  first.  Then  we  that  are  alive,  that  are  left,  shall 
together  with  them  be  caught  up  in  the  clouds  to 
meet  the  Lord  in  the  air:  and  so  we  shall  ever  be 
with  the  Lord."  (i  Thess.  4: 16-17.) 
73 


74         Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

4.  Should  Scriptures  of  this  character  and  style  be 

understood  literally? 

They  should  not;  for  our  ideas  of  the  invisible 
world  of  spirits  can  be  at  best  only  imperfectly  con- 
veyed by  human  speech.  Some  things  of  the  heav- 
enly life,  according  to  Paul,  are  unspeakable  in 
words,  and  some  are  not  lawful  for  a  man  to  utter. 
(2  Cor.  12:4.)  Prophets,  seers,  and  apostles  usu- 
ally speak  of  heavenly  realities  by  means  of  sym- 
bols and  figures  of  thought.  The  words  of  the 
apostle  are  adapted  to  give  an  impressive  picture 
of  the  heavenly  life,  the  reunion  of  saints,  and  their 
eternal  felicity  in  fellowship  with  the  glorified  Lord. 

5.  What  is  Paul's  great  argument  for  the  resurrec- 

tion in  1  Cor.  15? 

(i.)  He  first  of  all  affirms  the  fact  of  the  resur- 
rection of  Christ,  and  of  His  appearance  to  many 
at  different  times,  and  also  of  His  appearance  "to 
above  five  hundred  brethren  at  once,  of  whom  the 
greater  part  remain  until  now."  (Verses  i-n.) 

(2.)  He  affirms  next  the  fatal  consequences  of 
denying  the  resurrection  of  the  dead,  and  argues 
that  "if  Christ  hath  not  been  raised,  your  faith  is 
vain,  and  they  that  are  fallen  asleep  in  Christ  have 
perished."  (12-19.) 

(3.)  He  then  declares  that  the  resurrection  is 
part  of  the  divine  order  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ. 
"As  in  Adam  all  die,  so  also  in  Christ  shall  all  be 
made  alive.  But  each  in  his  own  order:  Christ  the 
firstfruits,  then  those  that  are  Christ's  at  His  com- 
ing, then  the  end,  when  He  shall  deliver  up  the  king- 
dom to  the  Father.  For  he  must  reign  till  He  hath 


Resurrection  and  Judgment  to  Come.  75 

put  all  His  enemies  under  His  feet.  The  last  enemy 
that  shall  be  abolished  is  death."  (20-28.) 

(4.)  Then  he  show*  how  this  faith  in  resurrec- 
tion strengthens  our  hope,  sustains  us  in  our  trials, 
and  inspires  one  to  a  holy  life.  (29-34.) 

(5.)  Then  to  the  question,  "How  are  the  dead 
raised,  and  with  what  manner  of  body  do  they 
come?"  he  replies  (verses  35-49) : 

1  In  the  life  of  seeds,  the  bare  grain  of  wheat 
that  is  sown  is  not  the  body  that  shall  be,  but  God 
gives  to  each  new  seed  a  body  of  its  own.    (36-38.) 

2  Observe  also  the  varieties  of  flesh,  as  of  men, 
beasts,  birds,  and  fishes.    (39.) 

3  There  are  also  celestial  bodies  and  bodies  ter- 
restrial.    (40.) 

4  Observe,  also,  how  sun,  moon,  and  stars  differ 
ing  glory.     (41.) 

5  So  in  the  resurrection,  the  body  that  is  sown  in 
corruption,   in   dishonor,   and   in   weakness,   in   its 
fleshly  state,  is  raised  in  incorruption,  and  in  glory, 
and  in  power.    (42,  43.) 

6  If  there  is  a  psychical  body,  there  is  also  a 
spiritual  body.    (44.) 

7  As   related   to  the   first   Adam,   we   bear   the 
image  of  the  earthly;  in  the  last  Adam,  who  is  a 
life-giving  spirit,  we  shall  bear  the  image  of  the 
heavenly.    (45-49-) 

(6.)  The  conclusion  is  that  flesh  and  blood  can 
not  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God,  and  this  mortal  and 
corruptible  must  put  on  incorruption.  Then  shall 
death  be  swallowed  up  in  victory.  (50-57.) 


76        Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

6.  What  one  essential  truth  receives  elaborate  con- 

firmation in  this  chapter? 

The  resurrection  of  the  dead,  and  the  realities 
of  the  immortal  life  to  come,  are  necessarily  things 
which  belong  to  the  unseen  and  eternal  nature  of 
spirit.  It  is  not,  and  in  the  nature  of  things  can 
not  be  now  made  manifest  just  what  and  how  we 
shall  be  in  the  resurrection,  but  divine  assurance 
is  given  of  immortality,  glory,  and  spiritual  power, 
blessed  beyond  our  present  ability  to  conceive. 

7.  What  does  this  apostle  further  write  on  this  sub- 

ject in  2  Cor.  4:  16;  5,  10? 

"Though  our  outward  man  is  decaying,  yet  our 
inward  man  is  renewed  day  by  day.  For  our  light 
affliction,  which  is  for  the  moment,  worketh  for  us 
more  and  more  exceedingly  an  eternal  weight  of 
glory;  while  we  look  not  at  the  things  which  are 
seen,  but  at  the  things  which  are  not  seen;  for  the 
things  which  are  seen  are  temporal;  but  the  things 
which  are  not  seen  are  eternal.  For  we  know  that 
if  the  earthly  house  of  our  tabernacle  be  dissolved, 
we  have  a  building  from  God,  a  house  not  made 
with  hands  eternal  in  the  heavens.  .  .  .  We  are 
willing  rather  to  be  absent  from  the  body,  and  to 
be  at  home  with  the  Lord." 

8.  How  did  he  write  to  the  Philippians  about  his  de- 

parture to  be  with  Christ? 

"Christ  shall  be  magnified  in  my  body,  whether 
by  life  or  by  death.  For  to  me  to  live  is  Christ, 
and  to  die  is  gain.  .  .  .  I  am  in  a  strait  be- 


Resurrection  and  Judgment  to  Come.  77 

twixt  the  two,  having  the  desire  to  depart  and  to 
be  with  Christ;  for  it  is  very  far  better."  (Phil,  i: 
20-23.) 

9.  What  is  his  testimony  in  2  Tim.  4:  6-8? 

"I  am  already  being  offered,  and  the  time  of  my 
departure  is  come.  I  have  fought  the  good  fight,  I 
have  finished  the  course,  I  have  kept  the  faith; 
henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  the  crown  of 
righteousness,  which  the  Lord,  the  righteous  Judge, 
shall  give  me  at  that  day;  and  not  to  me  only,  but 
also  to  all  them  that  have  loved  His  appearing." 

10.  What  do  the  words  "that  day"  and  "His  appear- 

ing" in  this  Scripture  imply  concerning  Paul's 
conception  of  the  time  of  the  Lord's  appear- 
ing? 

They  most  naturally  imply  that  the  day  of 
Christ's  appearing  and  awarding  the  crown  of  right- 
eousness was,  with  this  apostle,  the  same  as  the 
time  of  His  departure,  when  He  completed  His 
good  fight  and  finished  His  course. 

11.  What  great  central  truths  are  emphasized  in  all 

these  later  statements  of  the  apostle? 

(i.)  Paul's  going  away  to  be  with  Christ,  and 
his  obtaining  his  heavenly  tabernacle,  or  clothing, 
followed  immediately  after  his  departure  from  the 
world.  He  did  not  expect  to  be  found  as  a  naked, 
disembodied  spirit;  he  gives  no  intimation  of  an 
intermediate  state  of  long  repose  and  waiting  be- 
tween death  and  the  resurrection;  he  expected  to  be 


78         Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

at  once  clothed  upon  with  his  heavenly  body  and 
have  that  which  is  mortal  swallowed  up  of  life. 

(2.)  This  blessed  and  glorious  hope  belongs 
also  to  all  them  that  love  and  look  for  the  appear- 
ing of  Christ. 

(3.)  The  last  day  and  the  last  hour  are  not 
simultaneous  with  all  the  saints.  Each  one  of  all 
those  who  love  the  Lord's  appearing  has,  and  must 
have,  his  own  individual  "last  day,"  and  also  his 
own  personal  vision  of  the  Lord  in  glory. 

12.  What  did  Jesus  teach  concerning  the  resurrection 
of  the  dead? 

(i.)  He  opposed  the  Sadducees,  "who  say  there 
is  no  resurrection,"  and  He  declared  them  to  be  in 
error,  "not  knowing  the  Scriptures  nor  the  power 
of  God."  (Matt.  22:29  32.) 

(2.)  He  taught  that  "in  the  resurrection  they 
neither  marry,  nor  are  given  in  marriage,  but  are 
as  angels  in  heaven." 

(3.)  His  words,  according  to  Luke  21:36,  are: 
"Neither  can  they  die  any  more;  for  they  are  equal 
unto  the  angels;  and  they  are  sons  of  God,  being 
sons  of  the  resurrection." 

(4.)  He  also  showed  from  what  God  said  to 
Moses  at  the  bush  that  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob 
were  alive  from  the  dead. 

'(5.)  In  John's  Gospel  (5  : 24-29)  he  makes  three 
successive  statements  touching  life  and  resurrection 
so  distinctive  as  to  imply  three  resurrections,  or 
three  kinds  of  resurrection: 


Resurrection  and  Judgment  to  Come.  79 

1  "He  that  heareth  My  word,  and  believeth  Him 
that  sent  me,  hath  eternal  life,  and  cometh  not  into 
judgment,  but  hath  passed  out  of  death  into  life." 

2  "The  hour  cometh,  and  now  is,  when  the  dead 
shall  hear  the  voice  of  the  Son  of  God;  and  they 
that  hear  shall  live." 

3  "Marvel  not  at  this :  for  the  hour  cometh  in 
which  all  that  are  in  the  tombs  shall  hear  His  voice, 
and  shall  come  forth;  they  that  have  done  good, 
unto  the  resurrection  of  life;  and  they  that  have 
done  evil,  unto  the  resurrection  of  judgment." 

(6.)  In  John  6:40,  He  declares:  "This  is  the 
will  of  My  Father  that  every  one  that  beholdeth  the 
Son,  and  believeth  on  Him,  should  have  eternal  life; 
and  I  will  raise  him  up  at  the  last  day." 

(7.)  In  John  n  :  25,  26,  He  says :  "I  am  the  resur- 
rection and  the  life;  he  that  believeth  on  Me,  though 
he  die,  yet  shall  he  live;  and  whosoever  liveth  and 
believeth  on  Me  shall  never  die." 

13.  What  great  fundamental  truths  appear  in  these 
sayings  of  Jesus? 

(i.)  The  resurrection  is  the  antithesis  of  death, 
and  the  future  blessedness  and  glory  of  it  depend 
on  the  Christian  believer's  loving  fellowship  with 
God,  for  thus  "he  has  eternal  life  abiding  in  him." 

(2.)  Christ's  manner  of  teaching  this  resurrec- 
tion and  the  life  eternal  shows  a  noteworthy  differ- 
ence from  the  fleshly  conceptions  on  the  subject 
current  among  the  Jewish  people  of  His  time. 

(3.)  The  human  spirit,  having  its  "life  hidden 


80         Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

with  Christ  in  God,"  is  as  indissoluble  and  imper- 
ishable as  God  Himself. 

14.  What  should  be  our  answer  to  all  questions  con- 

cerning the  mode  of  the  resurrection,  and  of 
the  heavenly  life  eternal? 

That  which  is  written  in  the  First  Epistle  of 
John  (3:2):  "It  is  not  yet  made  manifest  what  we 
shall  be.  We  know  that,  if  He  shall  be  manifested, 
we  shall  be  like  Him ;  for  we  shall  see  Him  even  as 
He  is." 

15.  What  did  Jesus  teach  concerning  the  judgment 

to  come? 

(i.)  He  spoke  repeatedly  of  the  day  of  judg- 
ment, when  men  shall  give  account  of  their 
thoughts,  words,  and  deeds.  (Matt.  10:15;  11:22; 
12:36;  Mark  6:  n.) 

(2.)  He  declared  that  the  Father  had  given  all 
judgment  unto  the  Son.  (John  5:22,  27;  Matt. 
28:18.) 

(3.)  In  Matt.  25:31-46,  He  has  given  a  para- 
bolic picture  of  judgment  to  take  place  "when  the 
Son  of  man  shall  come  in  His  glory,  and  sit  on  the 
throne  of  His  glory."  The  issues  of  that  judgment 
are  that  one  class  "go  away  into  eternal  punish- 
ment, but  the  righteous  into  eternal  life." 

16.  What  is  Paul's  doctrine  of  the  judgment? 

(i.)  In  Acts  17:31,  he  says  that  God  "hath  ap- 
pointed a  day  in  which  He  will  judge  the  world  in 
righteousness  by  the  man  whom  He  hath  ordained; 


Resurrection  and  Judgment  to  Come.  81 

whereof  He  hath  given  assurance  to  all  men,  in  that 
He  hath  raised  him  from  the  dead." 

(2.)  In  Rom.  2:16,  he  speaks  of  "the  day 
when  God  shall  judge  the  secrets  of  men  by  Jesus 
Christ." 

(3.)  In  2  Cor.  5:10,  he  says:  "We  must 
all  be  made  manifest  before  the  judgment  seat  of 
Christ;  that  each  one  may  receive  the  things  done 
in  the  body,  according  to  what  He  hath  done, 
whether  it  be  good  or  bad." 

17.  What  is  written  in  Heb.  9:  27? 

"It  is  appointed  unto  men  once  to  'die,  and  after 
this  cometh  judgment." 

18.  Are  we  to  suppose  that  all  men  are  to  be  made 

alive  in  Christ  (cf.  1  Cor.  15:  22)  at  one  and 
the  same  last  hour,  and  that  the  Lord's  com- 
ing and  appearing,  the  resurrection  of  the 
dead,  and  the  judgment  of  eternal  destiny, 
must  needs  be  simultaneous  events,  to  occur 
on  one  day? 

Such  a  supposition  is  entirely  unnecessary,  is 
beset  with  many  difficulties,  and  is  less  in  accord 
with  the  Scriptures  we  have  cited  than  the  belief 
that  these  great  facts  of  time  and  eternity  work 
together  in  a  continuous  process,  and  must  needs  go 
on,  we  know  not  how,  until  the  Christ,  who  now 
sits  upon  the  throne  of  His  glory,  shall  have  abol- 
ished all  rule,  and  authority,  and  power,  and  have 
put  all  His  enemies  under  His  feet 
6 


82         Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

19.  What  does   Paul   say  of  the  time  when  Christ 
shall  have  put  all  His  enemies  under  His  feet? 

He  says  that  "when  all  things  shall  have  been 
subjected  unto  Him,  then  shall  the  Son  Himself 
also  be  subjected  to  Him  that  did  put  all  things 
under  Him,  that  God  may  be  all  in  all."  (i  Cor. 


20.  Does  this  imply  that  the  Son  of  God  will  evert 

become  less  than  He  now  is  or  ever  has  been? 

No  more  so  than  that  God  Himself  has  been  or 
shall  become  other  or  less  than  He  is  or  ever  has 
been. 

21.  What  is  the  vision  of  the  eternal  heavenly  glory, 

as  written  in  Rev.  22:  3-5? 

It  is  there  written:  "There  shall  be  no  curse 
any  more.  And  the  throne  of  God,  and  of  the  Lamb 
shall  be  therein,  and  His  servants  shall  serve  Him  ; 
and  they  shall  see  His  face,  and  His  name  shall 
be  in  their  foreheads.  And  there  shall  be  night  no 
more;  and  they  need  no  light  of  lamp,  neither  light 
of  sun;  for  the  Lord  God  shall  give  them  light; 
and  they  shall  reign  for  ever  and  ever." 

22.  What   corresponding    picture    of    this    heavenly 

glory  is  written  in  Rev.  7:    15-17? 

It  is  there  written  that  those  who  "come  out  of 
great  tribulation,  and  wash  their  robes  and  make 
them  white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  are  before  the 
throne  of  God;  and  they  serve  Him  day  and  night 


Resurrection  and  Judgment  to  Come.  83 

in  His  temple;  and  He  that  sitteth  on  the  throne 
shall  spread  His  tabernacle  over  them.  They  shall 
hunger  no  more,  neither  thirst  any  more;  neither 
shall  the  sun  strike  on  them,  nor  any  heat;  for  the 
Lamb  that  is  in  the  midst  of  the  throne  shall  be 
their  shepherd,  and  shall  guide  them  unto  fountains 
of  waters  of  life;  and  God  shall  wipe  away  every 
tear  from  their  eyes." 

23.  What  interpretation  are  we  to  put  upon  such  lan- 

guage and  statements? 

It  is  the  language  of  a  Biblical  apocalypse  in 
which  figures  of  speech  and  suggestive  symbols  are 
employed  to  move  the  imagination  and  affect  the 
devout  heart.  The  main  thought  which  they  are 
designed  to  convey  is  that  of  heavenly  eternal  fel- 
lowship with  God.  The  saints  in  light  shall  see  as 
they  are  seen,  and  know  as  they  are  known  (cf.  I 
Cor.  13:  12),  and  be  forever  free  from  all  that  can 
harm  them. 

24.  To  what  prayer  of  Jesus  will  this  glory  be  the 

ultimate  answer? 

"I  pray  .  .  .  that  they  all  may  be  one;  even 
as  Thou,  Father,  art  in  Me,  and  I  in  Thee,  that 
they  also  may  be  in  us.  And  the  glory  which  Thou 
hast  given  Me,  I  have  given  unto  them ;  that  they 
may  be  one,  even  as  we  are  one;  I  in  them,  and 
Thou  in  Me,  that  they  may  be  perfected  into  one. 
Father,  I  desire  that  they  be  with  Me  where  I  am, 
that  they  may  behold  My  glory  which  Thou  hast 
given  Me;  for  Thou  lovedst  Me  before  the  foun- 
dation of  the  world."  (John  17:21-24.) 


84        Primer  of  Christian  Doctrine. 

25.  How  may  we  construe  the  Lord's  Prayer  into  a 
comprehensive  Confession  of  the  Christian 
Faith,  adapted  for  universal  use  in  the 
Churches? 

By  giving  to  its  three  sets  of  petitions,  a  con- 
fessional form  of  statement,  after  the  following 
manner : 


THE  LORD'S  CREED. 

I  BELIEVE  IN  OUR  FATHER  WHO  IS  IN  HEAVEN,  WHOSE  NAMB 
IS  HALLOWED,  WHO  LOVES  US,  AND  GIVES  US  OUR  DAILY  BREAD, 
AND  ALL  GOOD  THINGS. 

I  BELIEVE  IN  THE  COMING  AND  KINGDOM  OF  OUR  I.ORD  JESUS 

CHRIST,  WHO  GAVE  HIS  LIFE  FOR  us,  FORGIVES  us  OUR  DEBTS  AS 

WE  FORGIVE  OUR    DEBTORS,    AND    TEACHES  US  TO  LOVE    OUR    GOD 
WITH  ALL  OUR  HEART,  AND  OUR  NEIGHBOR  AS  OURSELP. 

I  BELIEVE  IN  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT,  WHO  HELPS  US  IN  OUR  TRIALS, 
DELIVERS  US  FROM  THB  EVIL,  LEADS  US  INTO  ALL  TRUTH,  AND 
WORKS  IN  US  TO  DO  THE  WILL  OF  GOD  ON  EARTH  AS  IT  IS  IN  HEAVEN. 


INDEX. 


The  Synoptic             7     o 

Apostles,  Names  of  19 
Assurance  30 

Graces,  Christian  37 

BAPTISM                                 ^9 

HEATHEN,  Salvation  of  42,  43 
Heavenly  Glory                 82  03 

Holy  Spirit                                    44 

CHRIST.    See  Jesus  Christ. 
Church  38,  39 

,  Anointing  of  47 
,  Efficient  now  48 

Comforter  44,  45,  46 
Commandments  55,  56 
Coming  of  Christ.  62-64,71,73 
Confession  32,  34 
Consummation  of  the  Age..  67 

.Fruit  of  37 
,  Operations  of  45 
,  Revealing  truth  48 
,  Witness  of  36 

IREX^EUS  8 

Covenant,  Old  and  New..  9,  58 
Creed,  The  Lord's  6,  84 

DECALOGUE  55 

JERUSALEM,  the  New  72 
Jesus  Christ  — 
,  Apostolic  views  of.  .  23-26 

END  of  the  Age                       67 

Eternal  Life                          .  35 

,  Coming  62-64 

,  Facts  of  His  life  21 
Glory  of                          26 

Fasting  69,  70 
Father  in  Heaven              13,  14 

,  Kingdom  of  5I-69 
Miracles..   ..             21-23 

,  Goodness  of  15 

,  Name  28 

.  Seen  in  Jesus  17,41 
Fruit  of  the  Spirit  37 
Fulfilling  of  Law  10 

.Parables  58-60 
,  Popular  opinion  20 
,  Priesthood  40,  41 

Fundamental  doctrines  7 

,  Qualities  of  His  teach- 
ing              ii 

GOD,  Love  of                     15,  16 

—  •  —  Resurection  of  21 

,  Holiness  of  15 
,  Righteousness  of  15 
,  Providence  of  15 
Golden  Rule  56 

,  Revealing  God    17,  27,  41 
,  Sayings  about  Himself  18 
,  Virgin  birth  21 
,  What  we  should  think 
of                      ...  27 

,  In  all  the  world.  .  .  67,  68 
Ministry  of        39 

,  Worship  of.  27 
Jewish  bondage  of  letter  68,  69 

.  Sociology  of  .  .  61 

Tohn  Baptist...                   ..  54 

86 


Index. 


Judgment  to  come  80",  8  1 

Regeneration  32,  35 

KINGDOM  of  Christ  51-70 
,  Nature  of  53,  54 
,  Mysteries  of  54,  55 
,  Laws  of  55,  56 

LAW  and  Gospel           .  .  10,  57 

Repentance  33  34 

Resurrection  — 
,  Christ's  teaching.  .  78,  79 
.Paul's  teaching  74-70 
Revelation  progressive  10 

SACRAMENTS  39 

Lord's  Prayer  — 
,  Doctrines  of  14 

Sadducees  78 

Salvation— 
,  Nature  of  31,  32 
,  Conditions  of  41  ,  43 
,  Final  failure  of  41,  42 

,  Creed  of  6,  84 
.Supper  39 
Love,    the    greatest    thing 
16  33  37 

MAN,  Nature  of  30 

Sanctification  33,  36,  37 
Sinfulness  of  Man  30,  31 
Sociology  of  the  gospel  01 
Soul  Value  of                           29 

,  Sinfulness  of  30,  31 
Marriage  relation  30,  61 
Means  of  Grace                  38  39 

Spirit.     See  Holy  Spirit. 
Synoptic  Gospels  7 

TEACHING  of  Jesus  n 

Messiah,  Prophecies  of..  51-53 
Ministry  of  the  Gospel  39 
Miracles  of  Jesus  21-23 

Mysteries  of  Kingdom.  .  54,  55 
NEW  Birth  35 
PAPIAS                                       8 

Testament,  Significance  of 
the  word  9 
Testaments,  the  Old  and  the 
New               9,  10 

Trial,  Discipline  of  38 
Trinity      49,  50 

Parables  of  Jesus  58-60 
Paul  on  Resurrection  74-78 
Pentecost,  Day  of  46 
Prayer  39 

Vows                            70 

WATCHFULNESS  63,  64 

Priesthood  of  Christ  40,  4  1 
Promise  of  the  Father  47 
Prophecy,  Style  of  65 
Providence  of  God  is 

Witness  of  the  Spirit  36,  45,  47 
Work,  Christian  39 
\Vorshio  of  God...             ..  39 

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